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DOC EFP Staff Comments and Recommendations PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 5 published in the Wayzata Lakeshore Weekly News on November 29, 2011, and in the Plymouth, Wayzata, Orono, and Long Lake Sun Sailor on December 1,2011. A public hearing was held on December 15, 2011, at the Orono City Council Chambers. ALJ Eric L. Lipman presided over the hearing; the comment period was open for written comments through January 6, 2012, and was extended until January 31, 2012, to allow for comments on the Noise Assessment prepared by Xcel Energy. Approximately 10 members of the public attended the public hearing; six persons took the opportunity to speak on the record. Ten comment letters were submitted to the All during the comment period for the public hearing. The ALJ released a Summary of Testimony and Written Comments on March 5, 2012. Staff from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also submitted a comment letter during the comment period; this letter was inadvertently left of out the All summary report and was filed separately by EFP staff. The MPCA letter is included as Exhibit 23 in the Exhibit List attached to the proposed Findings. Public Hearing Comments Comments and questions received during the public hearing related to the location of the substation, screening and other mitigation for the replacements substation, suitability of the Baker Park Reserve as a route alternative, minimizing impacts from the Painter Creek crossing, use of swan flight diverters, impacts to water quality, and potential soil and groundwater contamination. Standards for Permit Issuance The Power Plant Siting Act sets standards and criteria and outlines the factors to be considered in determining whether to issue a permit for a high voltage transmission line (Minn. Stat. § 216E and Minn. R. 7850.4000). The law also allows the Commission to place conditions on high voltage transmission line permits (Minn. Stat. § 216E.03 and Minn. R. 7850.4600). EFP Staff Analysis and Comments EFP staff has prepared the attached proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order and proposed Route Permit. The Findings show that the alternative permitting process has been conducted in accordance with Minn. R. 7850.2800 to 7850.3900, identify route impacts and mitigation measures, and make conclusions of law and order. The proposed route permit includes measures to ensure the line is constructed in a safe, reliable manner and that impacts are minimized or mitigated. EFP staff reached its conclusions and recommendations based on the analysis in the EA and the comments received in this record. The record supports several specific items that merit consideration relative to special conditions in the HVTL Route Permit for the Orono Substation Expansion and New 115 kV Transmission Project. These items include: Location of Substation. Residents in the Huntington Farm neighborhood have requested that Xcel Energy pursue other locations for a substation. In comments submitted during the scoping