Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Documents
Describes the regulatory framework associated with the proposed Project, including the purpose and need for agency action, major federal permits (including the U.S. DOE Presidential permit), federal consultation requirements, state permitting requirements (including the MN PUC Route Permit), other state and local permits, and a summary of agencies, tribes, and persons consulted.
Chapter 2 — Proposed ProjectPDF, 1.6MBDescribes the project as proposed by the Applicant including proposed routes, structures, objectives, route selection process, estimated costs, and proposed schedule. Chapter 2 also describes the Applicant’s engineering, design, and construction plans, land acquisition processes, and Applicant proposed measures to avoid and minimize environmental impacts.
Chapter 3 — No Action Alternative PDF, 157KBDescribes the "No Action alternative,” in which the DOE would not issue a Presidential permit and the proposed Project would not be built. The analysis of the No Action alternative summarizes the impacts of not constructing the project and provides a baseline for analyzing and comparing potential environmental impacts from DOE’s proposed action and alternatives.
Chapter 4 Part 1 — Route and Alignment Alternatives Proposed During Scoping PDF, 7.8MBDescribes the four border crossing alternatives, 22 route variations, and nine alignment modifications that were proposed by agencies and the public during scoping. Chapter 4 also summarizes the process used by DOE in coordination with the DOC-EERA to jointly determine which border crossings and routes to include in the scope of this EIS. Chapter 4 also describes how the selected routes, route variations, and alignments are analyzed by dividing the 220-mile long project area into the three major sections: the West Section, the Central Section, and the East Section.
Chapter 5 Part 1 — Affected Environment and Potential Impacts PDF, 10.2MBDescribes the affected environment for the proposed Project, including descriptions of each resource, the region of influence (ROI) of the proposed Project on the resource, and impacts expected from the construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of the proposed Project. Chapter 5.0 first describes the impacts of the proposed Project that are common to all geographic sections and do not vary by route or route variation. Chapter 5.0 then describes the resources that do vary by geographic section and for which impacts vary by route and route variation—the impacts and resources are carried forward for detailed analysis and comparison in Chapter 6.0.
Chapter 5 Part 2 — Affected Environment and Potential ImpactsPDF, 6.6MB Chapter 6 Part 1 — Comparative Environmental Consequences PDF, 9.4MBPresents detailed analysis and comparison of the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed Project and alternative route variations, and describes mitigation measures by geographic section, route, and route variation.
Chapter 6 Part 2 — Comparative Environmental Consequences PDF, 10MB Chapter 6 Part 3 — Comparative Environmental Consequences PDF, 8.5MB Chapter 7 — Cumulative and Other Impacts PDF, 2.6MBMBDescribes reasonably foreseeable projects in the proposed Project area and assesses impacts of the proposed Project in the context of these reasonably foreseeable projects along with other past and present projects in the same area. Chapter 7 also describes unavoidable, irretrievable, and other impacts as required by federal and state regulations.
Chapter 8 — List of Preparers PDF, 658KB Chapter 9 — References PDF, 697KB Chapter 10 — Acronyms PDF, 576KB Chapter 11 — Index PDF, 117KBAppendices
Appendix A — Tribal Consultations PDF, 4.1MBProvides documentation of and correspondence for the DOE’s government-to-government consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and in accordance with Executive Order 13175.
Appendix B — Route Permit Generic Template and ExamplePDF, 9.1MBProvides documentation of and correspondence for the DOE’s government-to-government consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and in accordance with Executive Order 13175.
Appendix C — Narrative of the Scoping Summary ReportPDF, 2.8MBProvides the narrative from the EIS Scoping Summary Report summarizing the joint scoping process and associated public and agency comments provided during the public scoping period for the proposed Project.
Appendix D — DOC-EERA Scoping DecisionsPDF, 6.1MBProvides the DOC-EERA scoping decision issued for this EIS on January 8, 2015.
Appendix E — Route Analysis Data Tables PDF, 5.8MBProvides detailed data for the right-of-way (ROW), route, and region-of-interest (ROI) for the proposed routes and variations analyzed in this EIS.
Appendix F — Rare Species Data Tables PDF, 776KBProvides detailed MnDNR Natural Heritage Information System rare species data for the ROW, route, and region-of-interests (ROIs) for the proposed routes and variations analyzed in this EIS.
Appendix G — Rare Communities Data Tables PDF, 545KBProvides detailed Minnesota Biological Survey native plant community rare communities data for the ROW, route, and region-of-interests (ROIs) for the proposed routes and variations analyzed in this EIS.
Appendix H — Noise Supplement PDF, 276KBProvides terminology and regulations for noise and project-specific noise information.
Appendix I — Applicant's Audible Noise and EMF Calculations PDF, 2.6MBProvides the Applicant’s modelling results for audible noise, electric and magnetic field (EMF), and corona effects from the proposed Project.
Appendix J — Property Values Supplement PDF, 194KBProvides information and literature regarding the effect of transmission lines on property values.
Appendix K — EMF Supplement PDF, 172KBProvides information regarding EMF.
Appendix L Part 1 — Stray Voltage Supplement PDF, 10.2MB4 Parts / Provides information regarding stray voltage.
Appendix L Part 2 — Stray Voltage Supplement PDF, 10.1MB Appendix L Part 3 — Stray Voltage Supplement PDF, 9.9MB Appendix L Part 4 — Stray Voltage Supplement PDF, 2.9MB Appendix M — MPCA What's In My Neighborhood Sites PDF, 555KBProvides a list of sites in the proposed Project area identified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) program – What’s In My Neighborhood” – that may have environmental permits or registrations, or are potentially contaminated sites.
Appendix N Part 1 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 9.2MBProvides photo simulations developed for sensitive viewsheds identified in public comments during the public scoping period for the proposed Project.
Appendix N Part 2 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 7MB Appendix N Part 3 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 10.2MB Appendix N Part 4 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 6.6MB Appendix N Part 5 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 10.1MB Appendix N Part 6 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 8MB Appendix N Part 7 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 9.6MB Appendix N Part 8 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 10MB Appendix N Part 9 — Photo SimulationsPDF, 5.9MB Appendix O — Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan Example PDF, 2.8MBProvides an example of a AIMP prepared for a high-voltage transmission line project.
Appendix P — Cultural Resources ReportPDF, 5.3MBProvides the Phase IA cultural resources survey report for the proposed Project.
Appendix Q — USFWS and DOE Section 7 Consultation PDF, 571KBProvides the USFWS letter initiating informal consultation with the DOE under Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the proposed Project.
Appendix R — Biological AssessmentPDF, 8MBProvides the report which reviews the proposed Project in sufficient detail to determine if the proposed action may affect any federally threatened or endangered species and/or critical habitat.
Appendix S Part 1 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 9.8MBProvides maps with detailed information for the ROWs and routes for the proposed routes and variations discussed in this EIS.
Appendix S Part 2 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 9.8MB Appendix S Part 3 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 9.5MB Appendix S Part 4 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 9.9MB Appendix S Part 5 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 10.2MB Appendix S Part 6 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 9.8MB Appendix S Part 7 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 10.2MB Appendix S Part 8 — Detailed Map Books PDF, 10.2MB Appendix T — NEPA Disclosure Statements PDF, 1.2MBProvides signed copies of the NEPA Disclosure Statements.
Appendix U — USFWS Recommended Route PDF, 475KB Appendix V — Draft Programmatic Agreement PDF, 125KB Appendix W — Air Emissions Information PDF, 298KB Appendix X — Relative Merits Summary PDF, 479KB Appendix Y Part 1 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10.1MB Appendix Y Part 2 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10MB Appendix Y Part 3 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10.1MB Appendix Y Part 4 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10.2MB Appendix Y Part 5 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10.2MB Appendix Y Part 6 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10.2MB Appendix Y Part 7 — Comments and Responses PDF, 10.2MB Appendix Y Part 8 — Comments and Responses PDF, 2.7MB Appendix Z — EIS Distribution List PDF, 80KB
