Orono_Route_Permit_Application - Docket # W002/TL-11-223

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8.0 AGENCY INVOLVEMENT, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS 8.1 Agency Contacts and Response 8.1.1 Notice to Local Government Units Xcel Energy provided a notification letter to the City of Orono, the LGU for the Project on January 10, 2011. See Appendix C.2. This letter indicated that Xcel Energy intended to apply for a Route Permit for the proposed Project from the Commission. The notification letter to the LGU complies with the notice requirements of Minn. Stat. § 216E.03, subd. 3a. Xcel Energy has not to date received response regarding the Project from the City of Orono after this notification. As discussed in Section 4.2.2, Xcel Energy initially sought local review of the proposed Project from the City. The City subsequently voted to refer review and permitting of the routing and siting of the Project to the Commission pursuant to Minn. Stat. 216E.05, subd. 1(b), and MN Rule 7850.5300 subp. 4 (see Appendix C, C.3). Xcel Energy then initiated the State permitting process for the Project. Xcel Energy has had an opportunity to meet with the City and other LGUs during meetings conducted in June and August 2010. These meetings are discussed further in Section 8.3. 8.1.2 Notice to Other Agencies and Interested Parties Xcel Energy also provided notice of the Project and requested comments in a letter on January 10, 2011, to several non-LGU, agencies and interested parties associated with the Project. The purpose of the letter was to provide notice of Xcel Energy's plan to obtain a Route Permit from the Commission and request for comments on the proposed Project. See Appendix C.2 for the non- LGU mailing list and a copy of this letter. 8.1.3 Natural Resource Conservation Service In a letter dated January 20, 2011, the NRCS Environmental Review and Justice Program indicated that since the Project sponsors are not USDA program benefit recipients the wetland conservation provisions of the 1985 Food Security act are not applicable to the Project (see Appendix CA) 8.1.4 United States Fish and Wildlife Service In an email dated February 8, 2011, the USFWS indicated that no Federally listed or proposed species and /or designated or proposed critical habitat is present within the action area of the proposed Project. The USFWS did recommend that given the proximity to the Baker Park Reserve and the crossing of the wetland between the proposed Orono Substation replacement and the BNSF railroad right-of-way that bird flight diverters be installed on the shield wire of the proposed transmission line crossing this wetland. Additionally, the USFWS did recommend that if any maintenance work were to take place on the existing transmission Line 0831 within the Baker Park Reserve that bird flight diverters also be placed on the shield wire of the transmission line for the portion that crosses the Baker Park Reserve. (See Appendix C.5). Orono Project June 7, 2011 MPUC Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 65