This webpage contains information and documents related to the permitting of this project by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Every project before the Commission has an electronic docket (eDocket), a file folder for all of the project's documents.

Documents for this project are listed below in the File Register, most recent documents first. To view the eDockets record for this project, click on the eDockets link below, or click on the eDockets tab in the File Register. A subset of the record, including key documents with descriptions, is available by clicking on the Energy Facilities tab in the File Register.

For more information about participating in the permitting of this project, click on the How to Participate tab, or contact the environmental review manager or public advisor listed below.

Project Docket

Docket No ET2/TL 08-1474
Project name Brookings County - Hampton Transmission Line Project
Description Proposed 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated facilities running from Brookings County, South Dakota, to Hampton, Minnesota
Subjects Environmental policy; Electric power transmission
Location Brown County; Dakota County; Le Sueur County; Lincoln County; Lyon County; Redwood County; Renville County; Rice County; Scott County; Sibley County; Yellow Medicine County
Docket created: December 29, 2008
Contacts: Ray Kirsch, 651-539-1841, Environmental Review Manager.
Status:
 
01-27-2009
Application accepted
 
03-30-2009
Public meeting
 
06-30-2009
Scoping decision
 
10-20-2009
Draft EIS available
 
11-12-2009
Public meeting
 
11-30-2009
Public hearing
 
01-26-2010
Final EIS available
 
09-14-2010
Permit Decision
 
03-26-2015
Project built
 
Docket closed
eDockets 08-1474
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Project Summary

On December 29, 2008, Great River Energy and Xcel Energy (permittees) applied to the Minnesota Public Utitilities Commission for a route permit for the Brookings County to Hampton 345 kV transmission line project.  The permittees proposed to construct and operate a 345 kV transmission line, approximately 237 miles long, beginning at the state's western border near Hendricks, Minnesota, and ending south of the Twin Cities metro area near Hampton, Minnesota. The project is one of four projects proposed in Minnesota as part of the CapX2020 transmission initiative.

The route application was reviewed under the full permitting process of the Power Plant Siting Act.  Upon completion of a draft and final environmental impact statement (EIS) and a public hearing process, the Commission issued a route permit for segments 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the project on September 14, 2010.  After additional public hearings, the Commission issued a route permit for segment 4 of the project on March 1, 2011.  Since issuing the route permits, the Commission has amended the permits for select areas of the route to address engineering constraints and landowner concerns and to clarify sections of the permits which were unclear.

The project has been constructed and is in operation.  The last transmission line segment was energized on March 26, 2015.

Primary Documents
DateDocumentDescription
05/26/15 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration for Cedar Lake Project | document details
Commission order approving a minor alteration for temporary use of the open position on structures 044 through 068 of the Brookings project to carry a new 115 kV line
07/18/13 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #5) | document details
Commission order approving a minor alteration for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses a change in the route between structures 0961-006 and 0961-010 in segment 6 of the project
10/15/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #4) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses a change in the route between structures 243 and 250 in segment 3 of the project
09/10/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #3) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses the use of quadruple circuit specialty structures for the project
07/10/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alterations and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #2) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses modifications in segment 3 of the project related to engineering constraints and landowner concerns
02/29/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alterations and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #1) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses new maps, the size and location of the Hampton substation, and the number of conductors spanning Interstate 35
03/01/11 Route Permit for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project | document details
The Commission's route permit addendum for segment 4 of the Brookings to Hampton project, including links to route permit maps
09/14/10 Route Permit for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project | document details
The Commission's route permit for segments 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Brookings to Hampton project, including links to route permit maps
01/26/10 Brookings-Hampton Transmission Project Final Environmental Impact Statement
The Final EIS responds to timely substantive comments received on the Draft EIS consistent with the Scoping Decision Document. The Final EIS also contains corrections/revisions to the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS and Final EIS serve as the complete EIS for the proposed project
File Register
Energy Facilities eDockets
DateDocumentDescription
05/26/15 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration for Cedar Lake Project | document details
Commission order approving a minor alteration for temporary use of the open position on structures 044 through 068 of the Brookings project to carry a new 115 kV line
07/18/13 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #5) | document details
Commission order approving a minor alteration for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses a change in the route between structures 0961-006 and 0961-010 in segment 6 of the project
04/22/13 Commission Order Approving Route Alignment North of County Road 62 | document details
Commission order approving and reaffirming a route alignment north of County Road 62 between proposed structure 0960-103 and the Chub Lake substation
03/11/13 EFP Comments and Recommendations on the Appropriate Alignment for the Brookings to Hampton Project near County Road 62 | document details
EFP staff comments on the appropriate alignment for the Brookings to Hampton project from proposed structure 0960-103 to the Chub Lake substation
10/15/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #4) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses a change in the route between structures 243 and 250 in segment 3 of the project
09/10/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alteration and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #3) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses the use of quadruple circuit specialty structures for the project
07/10/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alterations and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #2) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses modifications in segment 3 of the project related to engineering constraints and landowner concerns
02/29/12 Commission Order Approving Minor Alterations and Issuing Permit Amendment (Amendment #1) | document details
Commission order issuing a permit amendment for the Brookings to Hampton project. The amendment addresses new maps, the size and location of the Hampton substation, and the number of conductors spanning Interstate 35
02/17/12 EFP Comments and Recommendations on the requested Minor Alterations to the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Route Permit (2 MB) | document details
EFP staff has submitted comments and recommendations to the Commission concerning the requested route permit changes. The requests will be considered by the Commission at the February 23, 2012, Agenda Meeting
01/17/12 Notice of Minor Alteration Application and Comment Period (48 KB) | document details
Great River Energy and Northern States Power have applied to the Public Utilities Commission for three minor alterations to the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV transmission line project. Comments are being accepted through January 31, 2012
01/05/12 Application for Approval of Minor Alteration (4.1 MB) | document details
Great River Energy and Xcel Energy have applied to the Public Utilities Commission for three minor alterations to the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV transmission line project
03/01/11 Route Permit for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project | document details
The Commission's route permit addendum for segment 4 of the Brookings to Hampton project, including links to route permit maps
03/01/11 Order Granting Route Permit for Remanded Segment of Route (529 KB) | document details
Commission order granting a route permit for the remanded portion (Section 4) of the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line
01/28/11 Comments and Recommendations on Remanded Portion of the Brookings to Hampton 345kV Transmission Line (1.4 MB) | document details
EFP staff Comments and Recommendations proposing Findings of Fact, Route Permit Addendum and Maps for segment 4 of the Brookings to Hampton 345kV Transmission Line
10/29/10 Order Denying Petition for Reconsideration (127 KB) | document details
The Commission on October 29, 2010 issued an Order denying a petition for reconsideration
09/14/10 Route Permit for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project | document details
The Commission's route permit for segments 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Brookings to Hampton project, including links to route permit maps
09/14/10 Order Granting Route Permit (1.4 MB) | document details
Commission order granting a route permit for Sections 1-3, 5, and 6 of the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line
09/10/10 Notice of Additional Public Hearings on the Proposed Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project (141 KB) | document details
Additional public hearings strictly limited to the segments that would connect the Cedar Mountain Substation in Renville County to the Helena Substation in Le Sueur County will be held on October 4 and 5, 2010, in the cities of Arlington, Belle Plaine, and Le Sueur. Comments may be submitted to the administrative law judge through October 18, 2010
07/02/10 EFP Comments and Recommendations to the PUC on a Route Permit
EFP recommends issuing a Route Permit for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Project
04/22/10 ALJ Report for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Project | document details
Judge's Summary of Testimony; Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Recommendation for the HVTL Route Permit
01/26/10 Brookings-Hampton Transmission Project Final Environmental Impact Statement
The Final EIS responds to timely substantive comments received on the Draft EIS consistent with the Scoping Decision Document. The Final EIS also contains corrections/revisions to the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS and Final EIS serve as the complete EIS for the proposed project
01/13/10 Notice of Comment Period Extension for Proposed Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line
Judge Richard Luis has extended the public hearing comment period for the Brookings to Hampton transmission line project until February 8, 2010. Comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax or email and should include the Office of Administrative Hearings Docket Number: 7-2500-20283-2. Mailed comments must be postmarked by this date. Faxed and emailed comments must be received by 4:30 PM on this date.
11/06/09 Notice of Public Hearing on the Proposed Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line (45 KB) | document details
The Office of Administrative Hearings will conduct Public Hearings at various locations along the length of the proposed project from November 30, 2009, to December 18, 2009. Public comments can be submitted to the Judge through 4:30 p.m. on January 15, 2010
10/21/09 Notice of Availability of Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Information Meetings | document details
The OES announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) along with the locations and dates of upcoming Public Information Meetings. Comments on the DEIS will be accepted through November 30, 2009
10/20/09 Draft EIS of the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project
The Draft EIS discusses the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project and evaluates 26 route alignment alternatives and 47 route segment alternatives as identified in the EIS Scoping Decision Document
09/15/09 Landowner Letter (59 KB) | document details
A letter notifying landowners of alternative route segments identified in the EIS scoping document and being evaluated in the EIS that may directly or indirectly affect their property
06/30/09 Scoping Decision Document | document details
The Director of the Office of Energy Security Scoping Decision Document on the content of the EIS for the proposed Brookings – Hampton 345 kV transmission line project (6.3 MB)
06/30/09 Notice of Scoping Decision (34 KB) | document details
Notice of scoping decision and Intent to prepare an EIS for the Brookings to Hampton 345 kV project
06/03/09 Public Scoping Comments (474 KB) | document details
The file contains the public comments received via mail, email, and online submission during the scoping period. There is a great amount of data within the file, including links to the actual comment letters. You may need to utilize the zoom and scroll features in Adobe to view specifics on each page.
06/03/09 Public Comments and Suggested Alternative Routes Map (Google Earth 2009)
The following file shows the applicant's preferred, alternative, and previously considered routes along with routes suggested though public comment and the two Advisory Task Forces. The file is to be used in conjunction with the Google Earth application. Just click on the file and if you do not already have Google Earth your computer should automatically prompt you to load the program
06/02/09 Public Scoping Meeting Oral Comments (2 MB) | document details
Oral public comments from the 12 public scoping meetings conducted for the proposed Brookings-Hampton 345 kV project
05/18/09 Minnesota River Crossings to New Prague Advisory Task Force Report and Supporting Materials
A report of the Minnesota River Crossings to New Prague Advisory Task Force's work, including route alternatives to study in the environmental impact statement
05/07/09 Lake Marion to Hampton Advisory Task Force Report and Supporting Materials
A report of the Lake Marion to Hampton Advisory Task Force's work, including route alternatives to study in the environmental impact statement
04/09/09 Public Informational Meeting Handouts (823 KB) | document details
Handouts that were distributed during the Brookings County - Hampton Transmission Project public scoping meetings conducted between March 30, 2009 to April 9, 2009
03/11/09 RE-ISSUED Notice of Public Information Meetings for the Brookings County to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project (1.5 MB) | document details
The Office of Energy Security will hold public information meetings on the proposed Brookings County to Hampton Transmission Line Project beginning March 30, 2009. Public comments on the project will be accepted until April 30, 2009
03/09/09 Notice of Public Information Meetings for the Brookings County to Hampton 345 kV Transmission Line Project (1.5 MB) | document details
The Office of Energy Security will hold public information meetings on the proposed Brookings County to Hampton Transmission Line Project beginning March 30, 2009. Public comments on the project will be accepted until April 30, 2009
01/29/09 Public Utilities Commission Order Accepting the Brookings, South Dakota, to Hampton, Minnesota, Route Permit Application as Complete (4 MB) | document details
The matter was heard by the Commission on January 27, 2009. The Commission accepted the route permit application as complete in an Order issued January 29, 2009
01/20/09 Comments & Recommendations of OES EFP staff on the proposed Brookings to Hampton route permit application consideration (2.6 MB) | document details
Route permit application completeness to be considered by the Commission at the January 27, 2009, meeting
01/20/09 Draft Public Participation Plan (100 KB) | document details
A draft plan for public involvement that provides meaningful and effective participation opportunities to the public and helps EFP staff identify relevant community concerns
12/29/08 Route Permit Application - Appendices K through M
Route permit application for the proposed 345 kV transmission line from Brookings County, South Dakota to Hampton, Minnesota
12/29/08 Route Permit Application Appendices F through J
Route permit application for the proposed 345 kV transmission line from Brookings County, South Dakota to Hampton, Minnesota
12/29/08 Route Permit Application - Appendices A through E
Route permit application for the proposed 345 kV transmission line from Brookings County, South Dakota to Hampton, Minnesota
12/29/08 Route Permit Application
Route permit application for the proposed 345 kV transmission line from Brookings County, South Dakota to Hampton, Minnesota

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