Agenda Public Information Meetings 1) Introductions / Materials Draft Environmental Impact Statement 2) Proposed Project 3) State Permitting Process Minnesota to Iowa 345 kV Transmission Line Project 4) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) PUC Docket Nos. ET6675/CN ‐ 12 ‐ 1053 and ET6676/TL ‐ 12 ‐ 1337 5) Using the Draft EIS April 22 ‐ 24, 2014 6) Comments
Introductions / Materials Proposed Project o Introductions o Approximately 73 miles of new 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line Department of Commerce • ITC Midwest • o Associated Facilities o Materials Expand the Lakefield Junction substation • Presentation Construct a new Huntley substation • • Relocate existing 161 and 69 kV lines Comment Form • • Meeting Notice Remove the Winnebago Junction substation • • Mailing List Sign Up •
State Permitting Process o Project Requires a Certificate of Need (CN) and Route Permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Height: 130 ‐ 190 feet • Span: 700 ‐ 1000 feet • o CN Process (Minn. Rules 7849) and Route Right ‐ of ‐ way: 200 feet Permit Process (Minn. Rules 7850) • o Commission Gets Assistance from State Agencies M INNESOTA OAH Typical 345 kV/161 kV O FFICE OF A DMINISTRATIVE H EARINGS Double Circuit Structure
State Permitting Process ‐ CN State Permitting Process ‐ Route Permit o Is this Project Needed or is a Different o If this Project is Needed, Where Should it be Project More Appropriate for the State of Located and How Should it be Constructed? Minnesota? o Routing Factors in Minn. Rules 7850 Size • Human Settlements, Public Health and Safety • Type • Land ‐ based Economies, Natural Environment • Timing • Use of Existing Rights ‐ of ‐ Way •
Minnesota Rule 7850.4100 Factors Considered by the Commission For Transmission Line Route Permits In determining whether to issue a route permit for a high voltage transmission line, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission shall consider the following: A. Effects on human settlement, including, but not limited to displacement, noise, aesthetics, cultural values, recreation and public services; B. Effects on public health and safety; C. Effects on land-based economics, including, but not limited to, agriculture, forestry, tourism, and mining; D. Effects on archaeological and historic resources; E. Effects on the natural environment, including effect on air and water quality resources and flora and fauna; F. Effects on rare and unique natural resources; G. Application of design options that maximize energy efficiencies, mitigate adverse environmental effects, and could accommodate expansion of transmission or generating capacity; H. Use or paralleling of existing right-of-way, survey lines, natural division lines, and agricultural field boundaries; I. Use of existing large electric power generating plant sites; J. Use of existing transportation, pipeline, and electrical transmission systems or rights-of- way; K. Electrical systems reliability; L. Costs of constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility which are dependent on design and route; M. Adverse human and natural environmental effects which cannot be avoided; and N. Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources.
Minnesota to Iowa CN and Route Permit March 345 kV Transmission Line Project Applications Submitted to the 2013 Public Utilities Commission CN and Route Permitting Process Minn. Rules 7849 and 7850 June Applications 2013 Accepted Public Information and July Environmental Impact Statement September 2013 (EIS) Scoping Meetings 2014 Administrative Law October Judge Report EIS Scoping Decision 2013 Fall Draft EIS Prepared 2014 March 21, 2014 and Issued CN and Route Permit April 22-24, Decisions by the 2014 Commission Public Meetings and Comment Period on Draft EIS Contested Case Hearing Public Final EIS Prepared Public Comment Opportunity Hearings – and Issued Public Meeting Opportunity May 13 and 14, 2014 July 2014
State Permitting Process ‐ Schedule Draft EIS ‐ Contents o Informed Decision ‐ Making: Meet the Goals of the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act o Common Set of Facts o Does Not Advocate o Human and Environmental Impacts, and Possible Mitigation Measures How Project is Constructed • Where Project is Located – Route, Route • Alternatives and Route Variations o Relative Merits of Routing Options
Draft EIS ‐ Contents Draft EIS ‐ Availability o Routes, Route Alternatives and Route Variations o Websites Human Settlements – Noise, Aesthetics, Property • Department of Commerce Project Website: • mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/Docket.html?Id=33080 Values, Public Services, Airports Public Health and Safety • Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Website: • Land ‐ based Economies • www.puc.state.mn.us, click on “Search eDockets,” enter the Archaeological and Historic Resources year (“12”) and the docket number (“1053” or “1337”) and • Natural Environment – Water Resources, Wetlands, select “Search” • Plants, Animals o Local Libraries Rare and Unique Natural Resources • Use of Existing Rights ‐ of ‐ Way o Review Copies | CD Copies • Costs •
Draft EIS ‐ Information Using the Draft EIS o Contact Us o Advocating at the Public Hearing Ray Kirsch Tracy Smetana Need for the Project • Environmental Review Manager Public Advisor Route Permit • 651 ‐ 539 ‐ 1841 651 ‐ 296 ‐ 0406 or 1 ‐ 800 ‐ 657 ‐ 3782 What Are the Impacts That You are • raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us consumer.puc@state.mn.us Concerned About? How Could They be o Sign Up for Project Mailing List Avoided or Mitigated? How the Project is Constructed http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities • o Where the Project is Located – Route, Sign Up Cards • o Alignment o Subscribe to eDockets o ITC Midwest’s Modified Route A www.puc.state.mn.us • Click on “Subscribe to a Docket” Enter the year (“12”) and the docket number (“1053” or “1337”)
Comments Comments o Verbal Comments at Today’s Meeting Contents of the Draft EIS o Complete and Submit a Comment Sheet o What Needs to be Clarified? o Comment On ‐ Line o What’s Missing? http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities o What Needs to be Added Such That the o Mail, Fax or Email a Comment: Final EIS is Complete and Accurate? Ray Kirsch, Environmental Review Manager Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7 th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 55101 ‐ 2198 fax: 651 ‐ 539 ‐ 0109 raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us o Comment Period Ends: May 9, 2014
Comments o One Speaker at a Time o Please Limit Comments to a Few Minutes o Please State and Spell Your Name for the Court Reporter o Maintain Respect for Others o Direct Your Comments / Questions to the Contents of the DEIS
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