Public Information/Environmental Scoping Meeting

Home Browse Search

DOC EFP Staff Comments and Recommendations PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 4 Hearing Process Applications for high voltage transmission line route permits under the alternative permitting process require a public hearing upon completion of the EA pursuant to Minn. R. 7850.3800. A portion of the hearing must be held in a county where the proposed project would be located. The hearing must be conducted in the following manner, although the hearing examiner may vary the order in which the hearing proceeds: • the staff shall make a brief presentation to describe the project, explain the process to be followed, and introduce documents to be included in the record, including the application, the environmental assessment, and various procedural documents; • the applicant shall introduce its evidence by way of testimony and exhibits; • the public must be afforded an opportunity to make an oral presentation, present documentary evidence, and ask questions of the applicant and staff; • the hearing examiner shall provide a period of not less than 10 days for the submission of written comments into the record after the close of the hearing; and • the hearing examiner shall transmit the complete record created at the hearing, including all written comments, within five days of the close of the record, unless the hearing examiner has been requested by the Commission to prepare a report. Public Advisor Upon acceptance of an application for a site or route permit, the Commission must designate a staff person to act as the public advisor on the project (Minnesota Rule 7850.3400). The public advisor is someone who is available to answer questions from the public about the permitting process. In this role, the public advisor may not act as an advocate on behalf of any person. The Commission can authorize the EFP to name a staff member from the EFP staff as the public advisor or assign a Commission staff member. Advisory Task Force The Commission may appoint an advisory task force (Minnesota Statute 216E.08). An advisory task force must, at a minimum, include representatives of local governmental units in the affected area. A task force can be charged with identifying additional routes or specific impacts to be evaluated in the EA and terminates when the Department issues an EA scoping decision. The Commission is not required to assign an advisory task force for every project. In the event that the Commission does not name a task force, the rules allow a citizen to request appointment of a task force (Minnesota Rule 7850.3600). The Commission would then need to determine at its next meeting if a task force should be appointed or not. The decision whether to appoint an advisory task force does not need to be made at the time of accepting the application; however, it should be made as soon as practicable to ensure its charge can be completed prior to the EA scoping decision by the Department. 4