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Energy Facility Permitting ' Scoping Decision Document PUC Docket No.E002/TL-11-223 Alternatives Proposed but not Evaluated in Detail This section will also describe the alternative substation sites that were proposed in scoping but not evaluated in the EA. VII. IDENTIFICATION OF PERMITS The environmental assessment will include a list and description of permits from other government entities that may be required for the proposed project. ' ISSUES OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The scope of the Orono Substation Expansion and New 115 kV Transmission Line Project EA will not consider the following: A. No-build alternative. ' B. Issues related to project need, size,type, or timing. C. Any route or substation alternatives not specifically identified in this scoping decision ' document. D. Policy issues surrounding whether utilities or local-government should be liable for the cost to relocate utility poles when roadways are widened. E. The manner in which land owners are paid for transmission rights-of-way easements, as that is outside the jurisdiction of the Commission. ' ALTERNATIVE ROUTES NOT CHOSEN FOR FURTHER EVALUATION None of the proposed alternative substation sites were chosen for further evaluation in the EA. Alternative Substation Sites 1,2, 3, and 4 were proposed by Michael Kuruvilla in order to ' minimize impact on homeowners and the surrounding environment. Xcel proposes to expand an existing 0.1 acre site to approximately 1.2 acres within its 16 acre parcel. The substation site is zoned as"RR-1A,"allowing 1 home per 5 acres." Xcel Energy addressed the proposed substation sites in a letter filed September 7, 2011. A map accompanying the Xcel Energy filing shows the location of the proposed alternative sites. The alternative substation sites and the site-specific reasons they were not included can be summarized as follows: ' Alternative Substation Site 1: This site is comprised of three small parcels owned by MnDOT between U.S. Highway 12 and Sixth Avenue South and is zoned the same as Xcel Energy's current substation site. These parcels are not large enough for development of the proposed substation of 1.6 acres and additional area necessary for setbacks. The actual developable area ' of these parcels is likely to be further reduced based on observed wetlands on the parcels and possible additional setbacks or buffers from U.S. Highway 12. The estimated length of transmission line from this site is approximately 0.54 miles,or approximately 0.15 miles more than Xcel Energy's proposed route. ' 7 of 9