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Human and Environmental Impacts 79. Both of the routes evaluated in the EA would result in changes to the existing environment and the potential for human and environmental impacts. Socioeconomic and Cultural Values 80. Xcel Energy anticipates that construction of the transmission line would require approximately 6-25 workers over the course of approximately eight weeks. Xcel Energy also anticipates that construction of the substation would occur over the course of 9-15 months, with an average work force of approximately six workers. It is not expected that additional permanent jobs will be created the project.79 81. Construction of the project should also result in small, short-term positive economic impacts in the form of increased spending for lodging, meals and other consumer goods and services as well as purchase of some construction material. Short-term economic benefits from increased economic activity during the construction phase of the project are likely to be absorbed within the larger Twin Cities metro economy and not limited to the immediate project area.80 82. Long-term socioeconomic effects from the project would include an increase to the county's tax revenues as a result of the value of construction and the increased value of utility property resulting from the project. In addition to the relatively small increase to county tax revenues, the project would improve the overall transmission stability and ensure voltage stability.81 83. There is no indication that any minority of low-income population is concentrated in the project area. No disproportionate impacts on minority or low-income populations are anticipated.82 84. Research on the relationship between proximity to transmission lines and the effect on property values near transmission lines does not identify a clear cause and effect relationship between the two. Instead, the presence of a transmission line becomes one of several factors that interact to affect the value of a particular property. Because of the large number of factors that influence the value of a specific property, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to predict the effect that a specific transmission facility would have on a specific property.83 85. The use of a property for a transmission facility does transfer ownership of one of the bundle of property rights from the property owner to the easement holder. This 79 Ex. 12 at p.22(EA),Ex. 17,at Schedule 11 (Sedarski Direct) 80 Ex. 12 at p.22(EA) 81 Ibid. 82 Ibid. at pp.21-22 83 Ibid.at p.23 18