Agenda - Council - 06/25/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Enterprise Park to Crooked Lake 115 kV Transmission Line March 2012 Environmental Assessment remove, bury, or upgrade the distribution line by attaching it as underbuild on the new transmission line poles. In fewer instances where the new transmission line would not be in conflict with the existing distribution line, the distribution line will be left in its current location. Approximately 4.2 miles of the 5.8-mile Proposed Route would parallel public road and railroad rights -of -way (approximately 0.65 miles adjacent to Trunk Highway 10, 2.7 miles along Anoka County Roads 7,14 and 116, 0.35 miles adjacent to the BNSF railroad; and 0.54 miles along Anoka city streets). This parallel alignment adjacent to public road and railroad rights -of -way represents approximately 72 percent of the total route length of 5.8 miles. The typical right-of-way will be 50 to 70 feet wide, 25 to 35 feet on each side of the transmission centerline. Along public roads, the Applicant has stated it will locate the transmission line structures two to five feet outside of the public road rights -of -way, although there may be unique circumstances where structures would need to be located within public road rights -of -way. With much of the Project located in densely developed suburban areas, consideration of narrower right-of-ways will be given in those instances where existing structures or other physical features may reduce the available right-of-way to less than 25 feet on either side of the transmission line. In rare cases, a right-of-way width exceeding 70 feet may be required for unusually long spans (such as the Rum River crossing) or special design requirements based on final design survey results. The minimum right-of-way width is largely dependent upon the extent of conductor blowout and recommended clearances from physical obstructions along the Route. Once a route permit is approved and issued by the Commission, an engineering design survey will be completed and a centerline location of the transmission line will be established. Right-of-way negotiations will commence shortly thereafter. As a general practice, landowners or other interested parties will be contacted to review project details and to discuss the initial phases of the transmission project, including survey and soil investigation. During the right-of-way acquisition process, each landowner or other interested party is provided with an acquisition package generally consisting of a copy of the Route Permit, easement documents, deeds, structure locations, typical structure photos, an offer of compensation and a project plan depicting the proposed transmission line or facility relative to each landowner's property. Additional information will be provided to each landowner or interested party explaining power line safety, easement acquisition procedures, damage settlement procedures, and a complaint reporting form. In addition to permanent easements necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission line, there may be other special negotiations with certain landowners for temporary easements or agreements for construction access rights and staging areas for storage of poles and conductor, equipment, vehicles, or other construction -related materials. Landowners will be sufficiently notified in the event that site access is needed for soil investigation activities. 15