Excel & Minnesota Department of Commerence

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Energy Facility Permitting MINNESOTA l. 85 7th Place East,Suite 500 DEPARTMENT OF St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2198 phhbs —Ali 651.296.4026fax 651.297.7891 COMMERCE I htt ://mn. ov/commerce/ener facilities P g gY PERMIT COMPLIANCE FILING REVIEW PUC Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 Northern States Power Company, A Minnesota Corporation(Xcel Energy) filed compliance documents pertaining to the Route Permit issued by the Commission on April 6, 2012, for the Orono Substation Expansion and New 115 kV Transmission Line Project. The following documents were submitted in accordance with the HVTL Route Permit: Filing Permit Description e-Docket Document Date Filed Number Section Number 1 4.1 Plan and Profile— 20131-82914-01 January 18, 2013 Transmission Line 2 5.4 Report of 20129-78807-01 September 19, 2012 Archaeological Survey Plan and Profile—11 S kV Transmission Line Section 4.1 of the Route Permit provides that: At least thirty (30) days before right-of-way preparation for construction begins on any segment or portion of the project, the Permittees shall provide the Commission with a plan and profile of the right-of-way and the specifications and drawings for right-of-way preparation, construction, transmission structure specification and locations, and restoration for the transmission line. The documentation shall include maps depicting the plan and profile including the right-of-way alignment and structure in relation to the route and alignment approved per the permit. On January 18, 2013, Xcel Energy filed signed Plan and Profile drawings of the proposed transmission line. Xcel Energy has informed Department staff that it wishes to begin construction while the ground is frozen. Department staff has reviewed the filing and believes that it is incomplete in its current state. In the judgment of Department staff, additional material is required to ensure that the filing meets the intent of the permit: 1. Section 4.1 of the permit requires the permittee to provide information on right-of-way (ROW)preparation and restoration. Although the filing does indication the location and dimension of structures, information on right-of-way preparation and restoration is missing. Department staff has advised Xcel Energy that this requirement may be met with an addendum describing how ROW will be prepared and restored, including information on removal of existing poles. 2. As required in Special Condition 5.2, Swan Flight Diverters are to be installed at 25' intervals. This should be noted on the plan and profile sheets.