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

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Enterprise Park to Crooked Lake 115 kV Transmission Line March 2012 Environmental Assessment The Public Water Inventory (PWI) shows the Rum River, which will be crossed by the proposed transmission line, and two wetlands adjacent to the line (116W in T32N R25W, Sections 26 and 35 and 115W in T32N R25W, Sections 25 and 36). The public waters are shown on Figure 5. Public Waters are wetlands, water basins and watercourses of significant recreational or natural resource value in Minnesota as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 103G.005. The DNR has regulatory jurisdiction over these waters. There are several National Wetland Inventory (NWI) wetlands in the Project area, the locations of which are summarized in Table 5.8. Except for those wetlands in the Rum River floodplain, these wetlands will be adjacent to the proposed transmission line rather than crossed by it. Wetlands are important resources for flood abatement, wildlife habitat, and water quality. Wetlands that are hydrologically connected to the nation's navigable rivers are protected federally under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. In Minnesota, wetlands are also protected under the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) produced maps of wetlands based on aerial photographs and NRCS soil surveys starting in the 1970s. These wetlands are known as the National Wetland Inventory (NWI). Wetlands listed on the NWI may be inconsistent with current wetland conditions; however, NWIs are the most accurate and readily available database of wetland resources within the Project area and were therefore used to identify wetlands along the Proposed Route. Table 5.8: Locations of NWI Wetlands in Project Area Location T 31N R 24W Section 5 T 32N R 24W Section 31 T 32N R 24W Sections 30 & 31 T 32N R 25W Sections 25 & 36 T 32N R 25W Section 36 T 32N R 25W Section 35 I Mitigation — Water Resources No impacts to groundwater in the vicinity of the Project are anticipated. The Proposed Route of the transmission line avoids wetlands except for those near the Rum River. The Applicant will be required to apply to MnDNR for a license to cross the Rum River and to the Corps for a Section 10 permit once sufficient design details are available. These licenses/permits will include conditions to minimize erosion and other impacts. The proposed transmission line will span the Rum River and no support structures will be located within the river. Accordingly, no direct impacts to the river are anticipated. 46