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i i 8.1.5 Minnesota Department of Transportation In a letter dated October 14, 2010, the Minnesota Department of Transportation ("MnDOT") indicated that the proposed location of the new 115 kV transmission line would be an improvement over the existing 69 kV GRE Line BD location, which it indicated would be removed, and that MnDOT does not have any concerns with the scope of the Environmental Assessment for the Project2. (See Appendix C.6). It should be noted that MnDOT misunderstood that the existing 1 GRE 69 kV transmission line is to be disconnected from the existing Orono Substation, that it will not be connected to the replacement substation, and that GRE will re-route this line around the replacement substation. Xcel Energy will discuss this misunderstanding with MnDOT. 8.1.6 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Xcel Energy submitted two formal consultations to the MnDNR in letter form requesting 1 comments on the proposed Project. The first letter was sent to the MnDNR in September of 2010 and the second letter was sent in January of 2011. At this time, no response from the MnDNR Regional Environmental Assessment Ecological contact has been received for the Project. Xcel Energy also requested a review of the Minnesota NHIS on February 17, 2011, to determine if rare plants, animals, and natural communities or other significant natural features are known to occur within the Project Area (see also Section 6.6 above and Appendix C.1). On March 31, 2011, the MnDNR provided the Natural Heritage Review for the Project. The MnDNR identified one rare and unique species, within approximately one mile of the Project. (see Appendix C.1). As discussed in Section 6.6, the species includes the Trumpeter Swan. The Trumpeter Swan is typically found in shallow marshes and lakes. As discussed in Section 6.5.6, the MnDNR indicated that no rare or unique flora related resources with State protection were present within one mile of the proposed Project. Xcel Energy is currently working with the MnDNR to determine appropriate and applicable mitigation measures (see Sections 6.5.6,6.5.7,and 6.6) for the Project. 8.1.7 Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office In a September 2010 letter,Xcel Energy notified the Minnesota SHPO of the Project and requested comments concerning cultural resources associated with the Project. On October 21, 2010, the SHPO responded via letter that due to the nature of the Project, it recommends that an archaeological survey be completed (see Appendix C.7). In response to the SHPO request, Xcel Energy engaged URS to complete a Phase Ia literature review and prepare a Phase Ia Report for the Project. On April 13, 2011, Xcel Energy submitted a consultation letter with a copy of the Phase Ia Report to the SHPO requesting SHPO written agreement with a Phase la Report findings for the Project, which recommended that for the majority of the proposed Project no archaeological or historic resources will be affected by construction or operation of the transmission line Project. However, the Phase Ia Report did identify one area of concern at the proposed Orono Substation replacement site. The Phase Ia 2 Note that the MnDOT response refers to the scope of the Environmental Assessment which was going to be prepared in the local review process, before the City referred the Project to the MPUC. 1 See Section 8.3. Orono Project June 7,2011 1 MPUC Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 66