Environmental Assis for Orono Substation Expansion

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the new transmission line route would exit an expanded Orono Substation, head north for 866 feet as a double circuit line and then turn to the northwest along the southern edge of the BNSF railroad right-of-way for approximately 1,205 feet to the existing 115 kV transmission Line 0831. At this point, the Project would replace three existing transmission structures and approximately 1,030 feet of single circuit 115 transmission Line 0831with two new structures and approximately 1,095 feet of single circuit 115 kV transmission line, re-routing the existing line off of two residential parcels and onto adjacent Hunt Farm Home Owners Association property adjacent to the BNSF railroad. A new double -circuit corner structure would connect the single- and double -circuit portions of the project. The Project would also install fiber optic ground wire along the entire length of the Project (Xcel Energy, June 7, 2011). Xcel Energy proposed the route because it believed that the proposed route best met the following primary objectives: • Maximize use of existing Xcel Energy Property; • Minimize land use impacts by routing along transportation corridors and existing distribution and transmission lines to reduce the amount of new right-of-way required; • Minimize land use impacts by routing along natural corridors, field line, and property lines, where an existing corridor (e.g. fence line, drainage ditch, access road) is present; • Minimize use of new right-of-way; • Minimize impacts to residences; • Minimize impacts to public resources, including Baker Park Reserve; and • Minimize impacts to environmental and sensitive resources. Jbid.) Baker Park Reserve Route Alternative The application identified two routes that crossed portions of the Baker Park Reserve; these were ultimately rejected by Xcel Energy in favor of the Proposed Route. During the scoping process, members of the public requested further evaluation of a route alternative that minimized impacts to private property by shifting the route burden to public lands. The Baker Park Reserve Alternative to be evaluated in the EA is the same as Alternative Route 2 described in Appendix G of the Route Permit Application. The Baker Park Reserve Alternative follows the same route as the Proposed Route for the first 866 feet out of the substation, but continues northward for approximately 326 feet across the BNSF Railroad, U.S. Highway 12, and an existing Xcel Energy distribution line. Upon exiting U.S. Highway 12 right-of-way, the route enters the Three Rivers Park District's Baker Park Reserve. From here the route continues westerly approximately 974 feet across Baker Park Reserve property connecting to existing Xcel Energy 115 kV transmission Line 0831. The route would then cross back over to the south side of U.S. Highway 12. As with the Xcel Energy Proposed Route described above this alternative would also include the relocation of transmission line 0831. The total length of this alternative with the relocation of Transmission Line 0831 is approximately 0.6 miles. 3.4 Alternatives Proposed but not Evaluated in Detail During the scoping process, four site alternatives to expanding the Orono Substation were proposed (Department of Commerce, September 7, 2011b). None of the proposed alternative substation sites was chosen for further evaluation in the EA. Environmental Assessment PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 7