Laserfiche WebLink
Minnesota Minnesota Department of-Natural Resources <br /> Division of Ecological and Water Resources,Box 25 <br /> 500 Lafayette Road <br /> St.Paul.Minnesota 55155-4025 <br /> DEPARTMENT OF Phone:(651)259-5109 E-mail:lisa.joyal@state.mn.us <br /> NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> March 31,2011 Correspondence#ERDB 20110246-0002 <br /> Mr.Dustin Daniels <br /> URS Corporation,Inc. <br /> 100 South Fifth Street, Suite 1500 <br /> Minneapolis, MN 55402 <br /> RE:Natural Heritage Review of the proposed Orono Substation Expansion; <br /> T118N R23W Sections 29,30,31,&32;Hennepin County <br /> Dear Mr.Daniels, <br /> As requested,the Minnesota Natural Heritage Information System has been queried to determine if <br /> any rare species or other significant natural features are known to occur within an approximate one-mile <br /> radius of the proposed project. Based on this query,rare features have been documented within the search <br /> area (for details, see the enclosed database reports; please visit the Rare Species Guide at <br /> http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/index.html for more information on the biology,habitat use,and conservation <br /> measures of these rare species). Please note that the following rare features may be adversely affected by <br /> the proposed project: <br /> • Trumpeter swans(Cygnus buccinator),a state-listed threatened species,have been documented <br /> nesting in close proximity to the proposed project. These rare birds may be at risk for colliding <br /> with or being electrocuted by overhead transmission lines. We recommend the use of bird <br /> diverters on overhead lines near lakes and rivers, or other areas that may attract large <br /> concentrations of waterfowl. Please contact the DNR Regional Environmental Assessment <br /> Ecologist,Melissa Doperalski at 651-259-5738,for a regional perspective on the recommended <br /> number and locations of bird diverters for this specific line. <br /> The Route Permit Application should address whether the proposed project has the potential to <br /> adversely affect this state-listed species and,if so,any avoidance or mitigation measures that will <br /> be implemented. <br /> The Natural Heritage Information System(NHIS),a collection of databases that contains information <br /> about Minnesota's rare natural features, is maintained by the Division of Ecological and Water Resources, <br /> Department of Natural Resources. The NHIS is continually updated as new information becomes available, <br /> and is the most complete source of data on Minnesota's rare or otherwise significant species, native plant <br /> communities,and other natural features. However,the NHIS is not an exhaustive inventory and thus does not <br /> represent all of the occurrences of rare features within the state. Therefore,ecologically significant features <br /> for which we have no records may exist within the project area. <br /> The enclosed results include an Index Report and a Detailed Report of records in the Rare Features <br /> Database, the main database of the NHIS. To control the release of specific location information, which <br /> might result in the destruction of a rare feature, both reports are copyrighted. <br /> www.mndnr.gov <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />