Orono_Route_Permit_Application - Docket # W002/TL-11-223

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of developable land in this area as it is sited within existing Xcel Energy property, adjacent to existing highway and railroad rights-of-way, and within undeveloped HFA land. The closest commercial business is a gas station located in the City of Maple Plain approximately 0.75 miles northwest from the proposed Project. This structure is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and County Road 19. See Appendix B-3. The closest rural residence to the proposed new transmission line and substation replacement is located approximately 220 feet south and across 6th Avenue North from the proposed Orono Substation replacement area. The closest farmstead residence is located approximately 0.5 miles directly south of the beginning of the proposed line at a residence on Orchard Park Road which is approximately 600 feet north of Watertown Rd. See Appendix B-2. The numbers of occupied structures located within various distances from the Project are shown in Table 8 below. Table 8 Distance to Occupied Structures Mitigative Measures Land uses near the Project are not expected to change as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed transmission line and substation. Permanent impacts will be limited to the area where structures (e.g. poles) are placed and to the construction areas as described in Section 5.1.1 For the Proposed Route, the structures and overhead transmission lines will be placed within the existing Xcel Energy property and within primarily undeveloped areas on HFA land along existing transportation corridors. Impacts to surrounding land uses will be minimized by following within or adjacent to existing roadways, railroad and utility rights-of-way as much as possible. 6.2.3 Displacement NESC and Xcel Energy standards require certain clearances between substation and transmission line facilities and buildings for safe operation of the facilities. There is sufficient land at the existing 16 acre Orono Substation site to maintain substation clearances for the proposed expanded Orono Substation and associated new transmission line. Off of the Orono Substation site, Xcel Energy acquires appropriate right-of-way for transmission lines that is sufficient to maintain these Orono Project June 7, 2011 MPUC Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 41