Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is required to protect the physical features and historic character of designated properties and to determine appropriate treatments and identify ways to avoid and mitigate any adverse effects on designated or listed properties before carrying out any undertaking that would affect such properties.
To streamline its compliance with Minnesota law, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) typically authorizes an applicant applying for a large electric power facility to initiate consultation with SHPO at the time the Commission determines completeness of an application. Specifically, an applicant is authorized to gather information to identify designated historic properties, and to work in coordination with other interested entities, including Tribal Nations and Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis, to assess the effects a proposed project may have on designated historic properties. As part of the process, an applicant is required to demonstrate that consultation has occurred, whether the proposed project will affect designated properties, and if so, identify any permit terms and conditions agreed upon by the applicant and SHPO to avoid or mitigate any adverse effects on the designated or listed properties.
Copy of the consultation authorization letter issued by the Commission.
