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4.7 Clean-up and Restoration <br />Construction areas would be disturbed during the normal course of work, which can take several <br />weeks in any one location. As construction on each parcel is completed, disturbed areas would be <br />restored to their original condition. Practices to mitigate potential construction impacts would <br />follow permit requirements and be based on construction schedules, geology and topography, <br />maintenance guidelines, inspection procedures, and presence of sensitive environments or species. <br />Upon completion of construction, disturbed areas would be restored to their original condition to <br />the maximum extent practicable. If damage has occurred to fences or drain tiles, Xcel Energy would <br />reimburse the landowner(s) for the damages sustained (Xcel Energy, June 7, 2011). Xcel Energy <br />may employ an outside contractor to restore the damaged property to as near its original condition <br />as is possible. Areas with significant soil compaction and disturbance from construction activities <br />along the proposed transmission line route may require assistance in re-establishing the vegetation <br />stratum and controlling soil erosion. Construction and post -construction reclamation activities <br />would include but are not limited to removing and disposing of debris (including personal liter); <br />dismantling staging areas; restoring temporary workspaces, access roads, abandoned right-of-way <br />and other public or private lands affected by construction of the transmission line; employing <br />erosion control, such as silt fences, hay bales, seed blankets, or hydro seeding; and hand -planting <br />disturbed areas with native vegetation. <br />Landowners would be contacted by an Xcel Energy representative at the close of construction <br />activities to determine whether any damage has occurred as a result of the project. Areas damaged <br />during construction activities will be restored to their pre -construction condition to the extent <br />possible or Xcel will reimburse the landowner for damages sustained that are not repaired. Upon <br />completion of construction cleanup and restoration of damaged areas, landowners would notify <br />Xcel Energy of any outstanding construction damage that has not been remedied. <br />HVTL Route Permits issued by the Commission require the permittee to notify the Commission in <br />writing 60 days after completion of all restoration activities and also require the permittee to <br />compensate landowners for any yard/landscape, soil compaction, drain tile, or other property <br />damages that may occur during construction. <br />4.8 Maintenance Procedures <br />Transmission infrastructure has few mechanical elements and is designed and constructed to <br />withstand weather events that are normally encountered. Although infrequent, transmission lines <br />are taken out of service by protective relay equipment when a fault is sensed on the system or for <br />scheduled maintenance outages. As a result, Xcel Energy estimates the average annual availability of <br />transmission infrastructure exceeds 90 percent. <br />Routine maintenance and inspections are performed over the life of the facility to ensure its <br />continued integrity. Annual inspections of the transmission facilities are usually done by aerial <br />means. Periodic access to the transmission line rights-of-way and substations would be required to <br />perform on -ground inspections and conduct routine maintenance or repairs. Inspections would be <br />limited to the acquired right-of-way and areas where obstructions or terrain require access off the <br />easement. <br />Environmental Assessment <br />PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 19 <br />