Appendix F Detailed Cover Type Tables - USDA Rural Development

Bemidji – Grand Rapids
Biological Assessment and Evaluation
2.3.3 Alternatives
Through the evaluations completed to date, the Applicants have identified three routes that could meet
the Project purpose and need, as well as a number of alternative segments and crossovers (Figure 2 –
Project Alternatives). The route widths are generally 1,000 feet or greater. The actual transmission line
would only require a 125‐foot‐wide right‐of‐way (ROW). These 1,000‐foot‐wide routes will be used to
identify a 125‐foot ROW within which the transmission line would be constructed, and do not represent
the total footprint of the alternatives. The final centerline and ROW will be identified after the route is
selected through the environmental review and permitting process.
Ancillary facilities necessary to support the project include new or upgraded substations and a breaker
station. Each of the routes and ancillary facilities are described below.
Route 1 generally follows the Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company (Great Lakes) pipeline right‐ofway
from the Wilton Substation to just east of Deer River, where it then follows a Minnesota Power
115 kV transmission line to the Boswell Substation.
Route 2 generally follows U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) and the pipeline rights‐of‐way of Enbridge Pipelines LLC
(Enbridge) for its entire length between the Wilton Substation and Boswell Substation.
Route 3 bypasses the LLR by taking a more northerly route between Bemidji and Grand Rapids. This
route generally parallels existing transmission line rights‐of‐way between Bemidji, Blackduck, Deer River,
and Grand Rapids. Route 3 passes though the CNF in Itasca and Beltrami counties.
Route options 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2C represent bypass routes that connect sections of Routes 1 and 2, and
are intended to allow opportunities for connections between portions of the primary routes in order to
avoid sensitive environmental resources.
Certain upgrading of the Wilton Substation near Bemidji and the Boswell Substation near Grand Rapids
would be required, as well as upgrading an existing 115 kV substation or building a new 230 kV
substation in the Cass Lake area. Depending on the route selected, a breaker station may also be
constructed at Nary Junction. The upgrades and proposed new construction are discussed below.
Wilton Substation – The Project would not require physical expansion of the existing Wilton 230 kV
Substation. Two new 230 kV breakers and a line termination structure would be added as a result of the
Project, along with modifications to the existing 230 kV buses and relay panels. The Project would also
require completion of a new ring bus section, as well as five new 230 kV switches with foundations, steel
structures, and control panels.
Boswell Substation – The Project would require the expansion of the Boswell 230 kV Substation by
approximately 1.3 acres. No land procurement is required, however, because the entire expansion of
the substation would be on Minnesota Power‐owned property. In addition to modifications to the
existing 230 kV buses and relay panels, a new 230 kV breaker and a half bay would be added to the
substation. This would involve installing two new 230 kV circuit breakers and 230 kV dead‐end
structures, a new 230 kV bus, five new 230 kV switches, and associated foundations, steel structures,
and control panels.
Cass Lake Area Substation – The Project would require the expansion of the existing Cass Lake
115/69 kV Substation or construction of a new 230/115 kV substation, depending on which route is
selected. Routes 2 and 2C would require upgrading of the existing Cass Lake Substation. This would be
accomplished by extending the existing fence line approximately 320 feet west. No land procurement
would be required because the expansion of the substation would be on existing Otter Tail
Power‐owned property. The expansion would be for the 230 kV equipment, which includes a 230 kV
July 2010 Description of the Proposed Action Page 2‐4