{"id":5335,"date":"2014-05-08T11:10:04","date_gmt":"2014-05-08T18:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=5335"},"modified":"2014-05-09T07:17:29","modified_gmt":"2014-05-09T14:17:29","slug":"itcs-mnia-line-deis-comments-and-feis-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=5335","title":{"rendered":"ITC&#8217;s MN\/IA line &#8212; DEIS Comments and FEIS release"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Comments are due on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on May 9 &#8212; that&#8217;s TOMORROW!\u00c2\u00a0 More on this below on this post.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us\">raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us<\/a><\/p>\n<p>fax: 651.539.0109<\/p>\n<address>Ray Kirsch, Environmental Review Manager<\/address>\n<address>Minnesota Department of Commerce<\/address>\n<address>85 &#8211; 7th Place East, Suite 500<\/address>\n<address>St. Paul, MN\u00c2\u00a0 55101-2198<\/address>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Now, about the Environmental Review and scheduling&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a part of the Scheduling Order for the ITC Midwest MN\/IA 345 kV line docket:<a href=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/snippet.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5337\" src=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/snippet.jpg\" alt=\"snippet\" width=\"425\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/snippet.jpg 729w, https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/snippet-300x244.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As I work on the DEIS comments <strong>due tomorrow<\/strong> on the ITC Midwest MN\/IA 345 kV Transmission Project, I realized that environmental review is not incorporated into the scheduling order:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/SchedOrder3_20144-98187-01.pdf\">SchedOrder3_20144-98187-01<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That&#8217;s most unusual&#8230; I had to call Ray Kirsch to find out when the Final EIS is going to be released.\u00c2\u00a0 That&#8217;s July 11, 2014.\u00c2\u00a0 It&#8217;s not on the Scheduling Order.\u00c2\u00a0 So what?\u00c2\u00a0 Well, think about it&#8230; what that means is that the public hearings are May 13 &amp; 14th, the Evidentiary Hearings is May 19 &#8211; 23rd, the record closes on May 30, and so <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">all the hearings are over and the record is closed when the FEIS is released!\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/strong> It also means that the Public Comment period, which closes also on May 30, 2014, doesn&#8217;t give the public any way to comment on adequacy of the FEIS.\u00c2\u00a0 And parties&#8217; Initial Briefs are due on July 11, 2014, so we can&#8217;t comment on it in the Initial Briefs either.\u00c2\u00a0 No, this is not OK.<\/p>\n<p>So I fired off a letter, and am ready to file a Motion if need be:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/FEIS-Comment-Period.pdf\">CETF &amp; No CapX 2020 Request for Extension of Schedule for Public Comments and Briefing on FEIS Adequacy<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Again, send DEIS comments to:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us\">raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us<\/a><\/p>\n<p>fax: 651.539.0109<\/p>\n<address>Ray Kirsch, Environmental Review Manager<\/address>\n<address>Minnesota Department of Commerce<\/address>\n<address>85 &#8211; 7th Place East, Suite 500<\/address>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">St. Paul, MN\u00c2\u00a0 55101-2198<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Some issues that come to mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The DEIS should define \u00e2\u20ac\u0153need.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n<li>The DEIS should specify what capacity are they wanting, and what they want it for.\u00c2\u00a0 ITC claims that a lower voltage line \u00e2\u20ac\u0153would be unable to provide enough capacity to improve reliability or support additional generation.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d p. 49.\u00c2\u00a0 OK, so what capacity is that?<\/li>\n<li>Every time the DEIS says \u00e2\u20ac\u0153need,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d it should change that to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153want\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153desire.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 That would make it a lot easier to understand.<\/li>\n<li>To the extent that it is claimed that this project is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153to enable new wind\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153deliver existing and future wind generation\u00e2\u20ac\u009d it must document how it is assured that wind is enabled\/delivered, mindful that FERC specifies that transmission cannot discriminate and must serve all types of generation, and there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a lot of coal coming in from the west.<\/li>\n<li>The DEIS \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Alternatives\u00e2\u20ac\u009d section says \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ITCM notes that the need for its project has been substantiated by its own studies and by those of MISO.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Ummmm, the only option considered by ITCM and MISO is transmission, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a transmission-only company and a transmission operation, DUH!\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Additionally, MISO conducts studies to determine those projects that best meet identified transmisison needs.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Oh, and those \u00e2\u20ac\u0153identified transmission needs\u00e2\u20ac\u009d are\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 ????<\/li>\n<li>PROMOD modeling is <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ECONOMIC<\/span> <\/strong>modeling.\u00c2\u00a0 Economic want, desire for profits, is not &#8220;need.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>There is a lot of surplus generation west of this project (see p. 48 of DEIS referencing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153even more surplus generation that must be exported to regional load centers\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n<li>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Different size\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is not limited to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153different voltage\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153different endpoints.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 For transmission, size = capacity.<\/li>\n<li>The DEIS correctly states that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ITCM is an electric transmission company; it does not operate electrical generation plants or provide retail electric service.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 GOOD, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s TRUE!\u00c2\u00a0 Now, what does that mean when considering how ITCM frames this project?<\/li>\n<li>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153In conclusion, while the 161 kV rebuild alternative may have potential for reduced human and environmental impacts, ITCM\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s analysis indicates that it is less effective than a 345 kV line at meeting the need for the project.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Ummm., SO?\u00c2\u00a0 What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the state\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s independent analysis?\u00c2\u00a0 Isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t this what an EIS should be?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In the meantime, here&#8217;s the DEIS for review:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/resource.html?Id=33807\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Draft Environmental Impact Statement Text<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Abstract.pdf\">Abstract <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Table%20of%20Contents.pdf\">Table of Contents<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Summary.pdf\">Summary <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%201%20Introduction.pdf\">Section 1 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Introduction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%202%20Regulatory%20Framework.pdf\">Section 2 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Regulatory Framework<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Section 3 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Overview of Project and Alternative Routes and Sites\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%203%20Overview%20of%20Proj%20-%20Alt%20Routes%20-%20Sites%20part%201.pdf\">Part 1<\/a> (4.6 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%203%20Overview%20of%20Proj%20-%20Alt%20Routes%20-%20Sites%20part%202.pdf\">Part 2<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0 (7.9 MB)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%204%20Alternatives%20to%20the%20Proposed%20Project.pdf\">Section 4 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Alternatives to the Proposed Project<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%205%20Affected%20Environment,%20Potential%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures.pdf\">Section 5 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Affected Environment, Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Section 6 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Impacts and Mitigation Measures for Specific Regions \/ Segments\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%206%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures%20for%20Specific%20part%201.pdf\">Part 1 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Lakefield to Huntley Segment<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%206%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures%20for%20Specific%20part%202.pdf\">Part 2 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Resource Maps<\/a> (9.2 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%206%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures%20for%20Specific%20part%203.pdf\">Part 3 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Resource Maps<\/a> (7.3 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%206%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures%20for%20Specific%20part%204.pdf\">Part 4 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Resource Maps<\/a> (8.3 MB)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%206%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures%20for%20Specific%20part%205.pdf\">Part 5 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Huntley to Iowa Border Segment<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%206%20Impacts%20and%20Mitigation%20Measures%20for%20Specific%20part%206.pdf\">Part 6 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Resource Maps<\/a> (6.2 MB)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%207%20Relative%20Merits%20of%20Routing%20Options.pdf\">Section 7 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Relative Merits of Routing Options<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Section%208%20References.pdf\">Section 8 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c References<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Appendices<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20A%20-%20Scoping%20Decision.pdf\">Appendix A \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Scoping Decision<\/a> (5.7 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20B%20-%20Generic%20Route%20Permit%20Template%20and%20Example%20Route%20Permit.pdf\">Appendix B \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Generic Route Permit Template and Example Route Permit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20C%20-%20Transmission%20Line%20Structures.pdf\">Appendix C \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Transmission Line Structures<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Appendix D \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Photo Simulations\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20D%20-%20Photo%20Simulations%20part%201.pdf\">Part 1 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Facilities at Huntley Substation<\/a> (9.8 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20D%20-%20Photo%20Simulations%20part%201.pdf\">Part 2 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Facilities at Huntley Substation<\/a> (8.9 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20D%20-%20Photo%20Simulations%20part%203.pdf\">Part 3 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Facilities at Huntley Substation<\/a> (9.9 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20D%20-%20Photo%20Simulations%20part%204.pdf\">Part 4 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Lake Crossings at Fox Lake and Lake Charlotte<\/a> (8.8 MB)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20E%20-%20Example%20Agricultural%20Impact%20Mitigation%20Plan.pdf\">Appendix E \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Example Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20F%20-%20Noise%20Supplement.pdf\">Appendix F \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Noise Supplement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20G%20-%20Property%20Values%20Supplement.pdf\">Appendix G \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Property Values Supplement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20H%20-%20EMF%20Supplement.pdf\">Appendix H \u00e2\u20ac\u201c EMF Supplement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20I%20-%20Arch%20and%20Historic%20Resources%20Data.pdf\">Appendix I \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Archaeological and Historic Resources Data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20J%20-%20Route%20Analysis%20Data%20Tables.pdf\">Appendix J \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Route Analysis Data Tables<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20K%20-%20Rare%20Resources%20and%20Rare%20Species.pdf\">Appendix K \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Rare Resources and Rare Species<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Appendix L \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Map Book\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Amended%20Overview%20Map.pdf\">Overview Map<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Amended%20Sheets%20LH1%20to%20LH%2019.pdf\">Part 1, Map Sheets LH1 to LH19<\/a> (7.3 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20L%20-%20Detailed%20Map%20Book%20part%202.pdf\">Part 2, Map Sheets LH20 to LH44<\/a> (8.6 MB)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/energyfacilities\/documents\/33080\/Appendix%20L%20-%20Detailed%20Map%20Book%20part%203.pdf\">Part 3, Map Sheets LH45 to LH57; HI1 to HI12<\/a> (7.7 MB)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comments are due on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on May 9 &#8212; that&#8217;s TOMORROW!\u00c2\u00a0 More on this below on this post. raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us fax: 651.539.0109 Ray Kirsch, Environmental Review Manager Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 &#8211; 7th Place East, Suite <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=5335\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[853,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-itc-mn-ia-345-kv","category-nuts-bolts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5335"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5343,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5335\/revisions\/5343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}