Environmental Assis for Orono Substation Expansion

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In Minnesota, no person may construct a high-voltage transmission line without a route permit from the Public Utilities Commission under Minnesota Statute 216E.03, subdivision 2. A high-voltage transmission line is defined as a conductor of electric energy and associated facilities designed for and capable of operation at a nominal voltage of 100 kV or more and is greater than 1,500 feet in length. Associated facilities of the transmission line include buildings, equipment, and other physical structures that are necessary to the operation of a high-voltage transmission line. 2.1 Certificate of Need Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 216B.243, subdivision 2, "No large energy facility shall be sited or constructed in Minnesota without the issuance of a certificate of need by the Commission." In the case of a high-voltage transmission line, a large energy facility is defined as, (1) any high-voltage transmission line with a capacity of 200 kV or more and greater than 1,500 feet in length, and (2) any high-voltage transmission line with a capacity of 100 kV or more with more than ten miles of its length in Minnesota or that crosses a state line. The project as proposed, a 115 kV transmission line with a length of less than one mile, does not qualify as a large energy facility and a certificate of need is not required. 2.2 Alternative Permitting Process The proposed project is eligible for consideration under the alternative permitting process (Minnesota Rule 7850.2800) of the Power Plant Siting Act (Minnesota Statute 216E.04). The alternative permitting process is shorter than the full permitting procedures and does not require the applicant to propose alternative sites or routes to the preferred site or route, but does require the applicant to disclose rejected route alternatives and an explanation of why they were rejected. 2.3 Route Permit Application The applicant filed a route permit application with the Commission for the Project on June 7, 2011. The Commission accepted the application as complete in an order issued on June 30, 2011. Under the alternative permitting process, the Commission has six months to issue a route permit from the date a route permit application is deemed complete. The Commission may extend this time limit for up to three months for just cause or upon agreement of the applicant. 2.4 Public Information and Scoping Meeting EFP staff held a public information and environmental assessment scoping meeting on August 10, 2011, at the Orono City Hall in Orono, Minnesota, as required by Minnesota Rule 7850.3500. The meeting provided the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and the state's high- voltage transmission line route permitting process, review the applicant's route permit application, ask questions, and submit comments. A court reporter was present at the public meeting and transcribed questions asked and comments made by the public, as well as responses from EFP staff and Xcel Energy (Department of Commerce, 2011a). Approximately seven members of the public attended the meeting. A public comment period, ending on August 26, 2011, also provided the public an opportunity to submit comments on issues and alternative routes for consideration in the scope of the EA. Four Environmental Assessment PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 3