Environmental Assis for Orono Substation Expansion

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FMMI0YDEM 317:1:1F-191Lip In the Alternative Routing Process, applicants are not required to provide any routes for review other than the route proposed in the Route Permit Application. However, the scoping process allows citizens or local units of government to propose alternatives. In this case, one route alternative investigated by Xcel Energy during their internal routing process was proposed through the scoping process and carried forward into the Scoping Decision for further consideration. Xcel Energy proposes to construct a new 0.6 -mile long 115 kV overhead transmission line to be located in the northeastern part of the city of Orono. As described in the route permit application the new transmission line route would exit an expanded Orono Substation, head north for 866 feet as a double circuit line and then turning 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 HDHOA property adjacent to the BNSF railroad. A new double -circuit corner structure would connect the single- and double -circuit portions of the project (Figure 1). The Project would also install fiber optic ground wire along the entire length of the Project. The Baker Park Reserve Alternative, as described in Section 3, is the same as the Xcel Energy Proposed Route except that, rather than following the BNSF railroad to the northwest after it exits the Xcel Energy substation parcel it crosses the railroad and U.S. Highway 12 before turning to the northwest approximately to follow the highway right -of- way northwest for approximately 0.2 miles through the Baker Park Reserve. The anticipated centerline in this area would be located approximately 10 to 30 feet outside of the highway right-of-way and would either parallel the existing distribution line or move the existing distribution line to the new structures for this segment. Both the Xcel Energy Proposed Route and the Baker Park Reserve Alternative would be very similar in their potential impacts to the items evaluated in this EA. Both routes are similar in length, approximately 0.6 miles in total, and vary for only approximately 0.2 miles, the Xcel Energy Alternative following the south side of the BNSF railroad and U.S. Highway 12, while the Baker Park Reserve Alternative would cross to the north side of U.S. Highway 12 before crossing back again. For both routes, the nearest homes would be approximately 180 feet from the Orono Substation and 275 feet from the single circuit portion of the transmission line. Both routes parallel existing railroad and road right-of-way for a significant portion of their respective routes and would cross the BNSF railroad and U.S. Highway 12 at least once; the Baker Park Reserve Route Alternative would have an additional crossing of the railroad and highway directly north of the substation. The disparity between routes is realized when looking at the following: transportation crossings, tree removal, wetlands, and recreation. A comparison summary of the three routes and their potential impacts is presented in Table 17. Environmental Assessment PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 55