Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 124 / Friday, June 27, 2014 / Notices 36493 

DATES: Deadline for Transmittal of 

Applications: July 15, 2014. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christine Miller, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 

Room 4C119, Washington, DC 20202– 

5950. Telephone: (202) 453–5680 or by 

email: tqpartnership@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf or a text telephone, 

call, toll free: 1–877–576–7734. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All other 

information in the May 28, 2014, notice 

inviting applications for this 

competition remains the same, 

including the application submission 

instructions. 

Accessible Format: Individuals with 

disabilities can obtain this document in 

an accessible format (e.g., braille, large 

print, audiotape, or compact disc) on 

request to the contact person listed 

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. 

Electronic Access to This Document: 

The official version of this document is 

the document published in the Federal 

Register. Free Internet access to the 

official edition of the Federal Register 

and the Code of Federal Regulations is 

available via the Federal Digital System 

at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you 

can view this document, as well as all 

other documents of this Department 

published in the Federal Register, in 

text or Adobe Portable Document 

Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must 

have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

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You may also access documents of the 

Department published in the Federal 

Register by using the article search 

feature at: www.federalregister.gov. 

Specifically, through the advanced 

search feature at this site, you can limit 

your search to documents published by 

the Department. 

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1021– 

1022(c). 

Dated: June 23, 2014. 

Nadya Chinoy Dabby, 

Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and 

Improvement. 

[FR Doc. 2014–15093 Filed 6–26–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

[Docket No. PP–398] 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement and 

To Conduct Public Scoping Meetings, 

and Notice of Floodplains and 

Wetlands Involvement; Great Northern 

Transmission Line 

AGENCY: Department of Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy 

(DOE) announces its intent to prepare 

an environmental impact statement 

(EIS) to assess the potential 

environmental impacts from its 

proposed federal action of granting a 

Presidential permit to Minnesota Power 

to construct, operate, maintain, and 

connect a new electric transmission line 

across the U.S.-Canada border in 

northern Minnesota. The Great Northern 

Transmission Line Project 

Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/ 

EIS–0499) will address potential 

environmental impacts from the 

proposed action and the range of 

reasonable alternatives. 

The purpose of this Notice of Intent 

(NOI) is to inform the public about the 

proposed action, announce eight public 

scoping meetings, and solicit public 

comments on the scope of the EIS. 

Because the proposed project would 

involve actions in floodplains and 

wetlands, in accordance with 10 CFR 

part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain 

and Wetland Environmental Review 

Requirements, the EIS will include a 

floodplain and wetland assessment. 

DATES: The public scoping period starts 

with the publication of this Notice in 

the Federal Register and will continue 

until August 11, 2014. Written and oral 

comments will be given equal weight, 

and DOE will consider all comments 

submitted or postmarked by August 11, 

2014 in defining the scope of this EIS. 

Comments submitted or postmarked 

after that date will be considered to the 

extent practicable. 

Eight public scoping meetings will be 

held between July 16 and July 24. 

Locations, dates, and start times for the 

public scoping meetings are listed in the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this NOI. 

Requests to speak at any one or more 

public scoping meeting(s) should be 

received by Julie Ann Smith at the 

address indicated below on or before 

July 14, 2014; requests received by that 

date will be given priority in the 

speaking order. However, requests to 

speak also may be made at the scoping 

meetings. 

ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of 

the EIS and requests to be added to the 

document mailing list should be 

addressed to: Julie Ann Smith, Office of 

Electricity Delivery and Energy 

Reliability (OE–20), U.S. Department of 

Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20585; by 

electronic mail to Juliea.Smith@

hq.doe.gov; or by facsimile to 202–586– 

1472. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie 

Ann Smith at the addresses above, or at 

202–586–7668. For general information 

on the DOE National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) process, contact Ms. 

Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 

NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC–54) 

at: U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585; by electronic 

mail at askNEPA@hq.doe.gov; by 

facsimile at 202–586–7031; by phone at 

202–586–4600 or leave a message at 

800–472–2756. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive 

Order (E.O.) 10485, as amended by E.O. 

12038, requires that a Presidential 

permit be issued by DOE before electric 

transmission facilities may be 

constructed, operated, maintained, or 

connected at the U.S. international 

border. The E.O. provides that a 

Presidential permit may be issued after 

a finding that the proposed project is 

consistent with the public interest and 

after favorable recommendations from 

the U.S. Departments of State and 

Defense. In determining consistency 

with the public interest, DOE considers 

the potential environmental impacts of 

the proposed project under NEPA, 

determines the project’s impact on 

electric reliability (including whether 

the proposed project would adversely 

affect the operation of the U.S. electric 

power supply system under normal and 

contingency conditions), and considers 

any other factors that DOE may find 

relevant to the public interest. The 

regulations implementing the E.O. have 

been codified at 10 CFR part 205. DOE’s 

issuance of a Presidential permit 

indicates that there is no federal 

objection to the project, but does not 

mandate that the project be undertaken. 

Minnesota Power, an operating 

division of ALLETE, Inc., applied on 

April 15, 2014, to DOE’s Office of 

Electricity Delivery and Energy 

Reliability (OE) for a Presidential permit 

to construct, operate, maintain, and 

connect an approximately 220-mile, 

500-kilovolt (kV) overhead, singlecircuit, alternating current (AC) electric 

transmission system from the Canadian 

Province of Manitoba to the existing 

Blackberry Substation near Grand 

Rapids, Minnesota. After due 

consideration of the nature and extent of 

the proposed project, including 

evaluation of the ‘‘Information 

Regarding Potential Environmental 

Impacts’’ section of the Presidential 

permit application, DOE has determined 

that the appropriate level of NEPA 

review for this project is an EIS. 

The Great Northern Transmission 

Line Presidential permit application, 


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36494 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 124 / Friday, June 27, 2014 / Notices 

including associated maps and 

drawings, can be viewed or downloaded 

in its entirety from the OE program Web 

site at: http://energy.gov/oe/downloads/ 

application-presidential-permit-oedocket-no-pp-398-great-northerntransmission-line. Also available at this 

same OE Web site location is the May 

14, 2014, Federal Register Notice of 

Receipt of Application (79 FR 27587). 

The proposed federal action is the 

granting of the Presidential permit for 

the international border crossing. The 

proposed construction, operation, 

maintenance, and connection of the 

portion of the transmission line within 

the United States is a connected action 

to DOE’s proposed action. DOE will 

analyze potential environmental 

impacts from the proposed federal 

action and the connected action in the 

EIS. The EIS will be prepared in 

accordance with NEPA of 1969, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the 

Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts 

1500–1508), and the DOE NEPA 

implementing procedures (10 CFR part 

1021). Because the proposed project 

may involve actions in floodplains and 

wetlands, in accordance with 10 CFR 

part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain 

and Wetland Environmental Review 

Requirements, the EIS will include a 

floodplain and wetland assessment. 

DOE will include a floodplain statement 

of findings in the final EIS or issue such 

statement separately. 

The Minnesota Public Utilities 

Commission (MN PUC) regulates 

transmission line construction in the 

state of Minnesota: First, by determining 

whether there is a need for a 

transmission line through its Certificate 

of Need (CON) process; and second, 

through its Route Permit process. The 

CON process establishes the size, type 

and required end points of a proposed 

project. Minnesota Power filed its CON 

application for the proposed GNTL 

Project with the MN PUC on October 22, 

2013, and anticipates a decision on the 

CON by May 2015. 

Under the state’s Power Plant Siting 

Act (PPSA), the MN PUC must also 

determine the route for the proposed 

line and any conditions it will require 

for the construction, operation, and 

maintenance of the proposed GNTL 

Project through its Route Permit 

process. Specifically, the PPSA requires 

proposals for high-voltage transmission 

lines (defined as a transmission line of 

100 kV or more and one that is greater 

than 1,500 feet in length with associated 

facilities) to be issued a Route Permit by 

the MN PUC prior to construction. 

Minnesota Power filed its Route Permit 

application for the proposed GNTL 

Project concurrently with the DOE 

Presidential permit application on April 

15, 2014. As part of the MN PUC Route 

Permit decision-making process, an 

environmental impact statement must 

be prepared. 

DOE will act as federal joint lead 

agency with the Minnesota Department 

of Commerce—Energy Environmental 

Review and Analysis (DOC–EERA) 

acting as state joint lead agency per 40 

CFR 1501.5(b). DOC–EERA prepares 

EISs for proposed high-voltage 

transmission lines pursuant to 

Minnesota Statute Section 216E.03, 

Subdivision 5. In order to avoid 

duplication with state environmental 

review procedures, DOE and DOC– 

EERA will prepare a single EIS to 

comply with environmental review 

requirements under NEPA and the 

PPSA. 

DOE invites Tribal governments and 

federal, state, and local agencies with 

jurisdiction by law or special expertise 

with respect to environmental issues to 

be cooperating agencies in the 

preparation of the EIS, as defined at 40 

CFR 1501.6. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(USACE), St. Paul District, will be a 

cooperating agency on this EIS. A 

Department of the Army permit is 

expected to be required for proposed 

discharges of dredged or fill material 

into waters of the United States, 

including wetlands, under Section 404 

of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), 

and also for proposed crossing(s) of 

navigable waterways under Section 10 

of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. 

403). Minnesota Power will apply to the 

USACE for the required Department of 

Army permit as part of the proposed 

GNTL Project. 

Applicant’s Proposal 

The Applicant proposes to construct, 

operate, maintain, and connect a 220- 

mile, overhead, single-circuit 500 kV AC 

transmission line between the 

Minnesota-Manitoba border crossing 

northwest of Roseau, Minnesota, and 

the existing Blackberry 230/115 kV 

Substation near Grand Rapids, 

Minnesota. The Applicant’s proposal 

also includes associated substation 

facilities and transmission system 

modifications at the Blackberry 

Substation site, and construction of a 

new 500 kV Series Compensation 

Station (a structure which will house 

the 500 kV series capacitor banks 

necessary for reliable operation and 

performance of the proposed 

transmission line). A new Blackberry 

500 kV Substation would be required for 

the proposed Project and would be 

constructed adjacent to and east of the 

existing Blackberry 230/115 kV 

Substation. The proposed GNTL Project 

would carry hydropower generated by 

facilities operated by Manitoba Hydro, a 

Canadian electric utility, and would 

support the regional electric grid. 

The proposed GNTL Project would be 

located on all new right-of-way (ROW) 

that would be approximately 200-feet 

wide. A wider ROW would be required 

for certain spans of the proposed 

Project, at angle and corner structures, 

for guyed structures, or where special 

design requirements are dictated by 

topography. Steel lattice tower structure 

types and configurations would be 

considered for the proposed Project to 

accommodate variations in terrain and 

land use including a self-supporting 

lattice structure, a lattice guyed-V 

structure, and a lattice guyed delta 

structure. The Applicant currently 

estimates approximately 4 to 5 

structures per mile of transmission line 

with towers spaced approximately 1,000 

to 1,450 feet apart, with shorter or 

longer spans as necessary. The type of 

structure in any given section of 

transmission line would be dependent 

on land type, land use, and potential 

effect on the surrounding landscape, 

and would typically range in height 

from approximately 100 feet above 

ground to approximately 150 feet above 

ground. In some instances, such as 

where the proposed Project crosses an 

existing transmission line, taller 

structures would be required. In 

cultivated lands, the Applicant would 

use self-supporting lattice structures 

(free-standing towers constructed in a 

crisscrossed pattern of steel beams) so as 

not to interfere with existing land use. 

The Applicant proposes to expand the 

site of its existing Blackberry 230/115 

kV Substation near Grand Rapids, 

Minnesota, to incorporate the new 

Blackberry 500 kV Substation, which 

would be constructed adjacent to and 

east of the existing substation. The 500 

kV Substation would accommodate the 

new 500 kV line, existing 230kV lines, 

and all associated 500 kV and 230 kV 

equipment. Additionally, the proposed 

GNTL Project would require 

construction of a new 500 kV Series 

Compensation Station, which would be 

located within or adjacent to the final 

route approved by the State of 

Minnesota, and would include the 500 

kV series capacitor banks necessary for 

reliable operation and performance of 

the proposed transmission line, and all 

associated equipment. The final location 

for the 500 kV Series Compensation 

Station would be determined by electric 

design optimization studies and final 

route selection. The Applicant has 

initiated the electric design 


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optimization studies to identify 

generally what would be a preferred 

location of the 500 kV Series 

Compensation Station along the final 

route permitted by the state. Based on 

these studies, candidate sites in 

Minnesota include the overall midpoint 

of the line and at one-third of the overall 

transmission line distance from 

Blackberry to the existing Dorsey 

Substation in Manitoba, Canada. 

Minnesota Power will provide more 

information on these studies and the 

preferred location of the 500 kV Series 

Compensation Station when available. 

The proposed GNTL Project (Blue 

Route) would originate at the 

Minnesota-Manitoba border roughly 1.4 

miles west of Highway 89. It would 

proceed southeast 0.5 miles to 410th 

Street, approximately 0.16 of a mile 

from the intersection of 410th Street and 

County Road 3. The proposed GNTL 

Project would travel south 2 miles to 

390th Street and turn east following 

390th Street for 10.5 miles (where 390th 

Street then turns into County Road 118). 

At 0.25 miles from Highway 310 the 

proposed line would turn southeast and 

continue for another 12 miles. At 0.5 

miles from 510th Avenue the proposed 

line would again turn and travel 2.3 

miles east to join the existing Minnkota 

Power 230 kV line. The proposed GNTL 

Project would parallel the existing 

Minnkota Power 230 kV line southeast 

for 1.8 miles and then turn south where 

it would meet the existing Xcel 500 kV 

line. Beginning at a tenth of mile north 

of US Highway 11, the proposed 

transmission line would parallel the 

existing Xcel 500 kV line route for 36 

miles after which it would turn east, 

leaving the Xcel 500 kV line 2 miles 

southeast of the intersection of Faunce 

Forest Road and 19th Street Southwest 

in Lake of the Woods County. 

The proposed GNTL Project would 

proceed east for 5.8 miles and then turn 

northeast to rejoin the existing 

Minnkota Power 230 kV line at its 

intersection with Pitt Grade Trail. The 

proposed line would then parallel this 

existing 230 kV line in an easterly 

direction for 31 miles to a point 1.5 

miles west of the County Road 86 in 

Koochiching County where it would 

then proceed southeast for 8.3 miles and 

then south for 1.8 miles. At this point, 

the proposed GNTL Project would be 

roughly 1.5 miles south from the 

intersection of County Road 32 and 

County Road 36 in Koochiching County. 

The line would then continue southeast 

for 21.3 miles and intersect Highway 71 

roughly 4.5 miles northeast of Big Falls, 

where it would continue an additional 

9.6 miles to the southeast where it 

would rejoin the existing Minnkota 

Power 230 kV line, following the 

existing line in a southerly direction for 

12.3 miles. 

The proposed GNTL Project would 

continue south for 3 miles following 

Deer River Line Road (also called 

County Road 62). The transmission line 

would turn east for 3.5 miles and then 

turn southeast again and travel 5 miles 

to Itasca County near the intersection of 

County Road 523 and South Lofgrin 

Forest Road. The proposed line would 

extend south for 6.4 miles, turning 

south, southeast for another 2.8 miles, 

and then head south for 11.5 miles. At 

2.8 miles north of Scooty Lake, the 

proposed GNTL Project would continue 

to travel 7.5 miles south to County Road 

530, where it would cross the West Fork 

Prairie River. At County Road 530, the 

proposed line would again turn south 

southwest and continue 6.5 miles to 

County Road 57. The line would turn 

south, southwest for 3.7 miles, and then 

head south for 3.8 miles to Diamond 

Lake Road. The route then heads south, 

southeast for 2.7 miles. At the Swan 

River, proposed GNTL Project heads 

south for 4.4 miles where it would meet 

an existing Minnesota Power 230 kV 

line, paralleling it for 1 mile to the 

existing Blackberry Substation near 

Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

Agency Purpose and Need, Proposed 

Action, and Alternatives 

The DOE proposed federal action is 

the granting of a Presidential permit to 

Minnesota Power to construct, operate, 

maintain, and connect a new electric 

transmission line across the U.S.- 

Canada border northwest of Roseau, 

Minnesota. The Great Northern 

Transmission Line Project 

Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/ 

EIS–0499) will address potential 

environmental impacts from the 

proposed action and the range of 

reasonable alternatives. The purpose 

and need for DOE’s action is to decide 

whether to grant Minnesota Power a 

Presidential permit. It should be noted, 

however, that although the potential 

environmental impacts are important, 

they are not the only criteria that form 

the basis for the final permitting 

decision. DOE also considers the impact 

of the proposed action on electric 

reliability. If granted, the Presidential 

permit would authorize only that 

portion of the line that would be 

constructed, operated, and maintained 

wholly within the United States. 

Four action alternatives (routes) for 

constructing the proposed transmission 

line inside the United States have been 

identified by the Applicant: Two overall 

proposed route alternatives (Blue Route 

and Orange Route) and one segment 

option proposed for each complete route 

alternative (Blue Route Segment C2 and 

Orange Route Segment J2, respectively). 

The Blue Route would parallel existing 

transmission lines for 84.2 miles, while 

the Orange Route would parallel 

existing transmission lines for 66.4 

miles. The proposed route alternatives 

vary slightly in total length: 219.5 miles 

for the Blue Route, 232.7 miles for Blue 

Route Segment C2, 219.9 miles for the 

Orange Route and 222.8 total miles for 

Orange Route Segment J2. While the 

Blue Route is shorter in total length, it 

goes through undeveloped forest. Blue 

Route Segment C2 is longest in total 

length of the line and is closer to 

residences than the Blue Route 

alternative. The Orange Route 

alternative goes through undeveloped 

forest, whereas Orange Route Segment 

J2 is closer to residences. The majority 

of potentially impacted land for any 

route alternative would consist of 

woody wetlands and deciduous, 

evergreen, and mixed forest lands. 

Impacted agricultural land would 

include pasture and hay, row crops, and 

small grains. The combined Blackberry 

500-kV Substation and the 500-kV 

Series Compensation Station for any 

route alternative would require 

approximately 25 acres. 

An interactive map showing the 

proposed GNTL Project route alternative 

(shown on the map as the ‘‘Blue 

Route’’), a second route alternative 

(shown on the map as the ‘‘Orange 

Route’’), and two route alternative 

segment options (shown on the map as 

‘‘Segments Options C2 and J2’’) may be 

found at http://www.greatnorthern

transmissionline.com/map/. 

All route alternatives would cross the 

U.S.-Canada border in Roseau County, 

Minnesota, roughly 1.4 miles west of 

Highway 89. The Blue Route, the 

Applicant’s preferred alternative, is 

described in detail above. 

The northwestern-most portion 

(approximately 65 miles) of the Orange 

Route alternative would be collocated 

with the Blue Route; therefore, the 

descriptions of this portion of the routes 

are the same up to the point at which 

both propose route alternatives would 

meet up with the existing Xcel 500 kV 

transmission line. Once arriving at the 

existing Xcel 500 kV line, the Orange 

Route alternative would parallel the 

existing 500 kV line ROW, in a general 

southeast orientation, for approximately 

60 miles into extreme southeast Lake of 

the Woods County, to a point 

approximately 0.5 miles west of State 

Highway 72 and 1 mile north of 

Beltrami County. At this point, the 

Orange Route would turn south for 

approximately 1 mile, where it would 


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cross into Beltrami County, and 

continue south for an additional 4.6 

miles, then would turn to head east for 

approximately 0.5 miles, crossing State 

Highway 72. 

After crossing Highway 72, the 

Orange Route would turn southeast for 

7.5 miles, crossing into Koochiching 

County, after which, the route would 

continue southeast for another 3 miles 

to a point approximately 0.5 miles east 

of Pine Island Road. At this point, the 

Orange Route alternative would turn 

south for 15.7 miles to the vicinity of 

Flowing Well Trail. Approximately 0.1 

miles north of Flowing Well Trail, the 

line would turn east for 11.1 miles, to 

a point approximately 1.7 miles north of 

the City of Gemmell and 0.7 miles east 

of County Road 64. The Orange Route 

would then turn southeast for 13.0 

miles, head east for another 4.5 miles to 

a point approximately 0.8 miles west of 

State Highway 6 and 1.3 miles north of 

the Itasca County Line. At this point, the 

Orange Route would turn southeast for 

4.2 miles, crossing into Itasca County, 

before it would head east for 3.8 miles, 

to a point approximately 0.4 miles east 

of County Road 5 and 1.6 miles south 

of the City of Craigville. 

The Orange Route alternative would 

turn southeast for 1.3 miles, and then 

head south for 1.7 miles to cross State 

Highway 1. After crossing State 

Highway 1, the proposed line would 

continue south for 2.4 miles, to a point 

approximately 2.4 miles east of State 

Highway 38, where it would then head 

east for 6.1 miles. At this point, the 

Orange Route would be approximately 

2.4 miles west of the intersection 

between State Highway 1 and Bass Lake 

Campground Road, where it would veer 

southeast for 11.5 miles, to a point 

approximately 3 miles east of State 

Highway 65 and 0.6 miles north of 

County Road 52. At this location, this 

route alternative would follow a 

southern orientation for approximately 

14.7 miles, crossing County Road 52, 

Wolf Lake Road (among others) and the 

West Fork Prairie River. 

Approximately 2.8 miles west of State 

Highway 65 and 1.1 miles north of 

County Rd 57, the Orange Route 

alternative would turn southwest for 5.1 

miles, before it would follow a general 

south orientation for another 8.8 miles 

to meet up with an existing Minnesota 

Power 115 kV transmission ROW. The 

Orange Route would continue south, 

paralleling the existing 115 kV line for 

2.7 miles, then would veer southeast at 

Diamond Lake Rd and crossing U.S. 

Highway 169 between the Cities of 

Taconite and Marble. After crossing 

Highway 169, this route alternative 

would continue southeast for another 

4.0 miles, crossing the Swam River. 

Approximately 0.3 miles north of Foot 

Lake, the route would then turn south 

for 1.1 miles, where it meets up with the 

existing Minnesota Power 115 kV line. 

The Orange Route would parallel this 

existing 115 kV line ROW southeast for 

1.4 miles, where it would turn south for 

another 0.8 miles, terminating at the 

existing Blackberry Substation near 

Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

The Blue Route Segment C2 

alternative would be the same as the 

proposed Blue Route alternative until 

the line reaches a point roughly 1.5 mile 

south from the intersection of County 

Road 32 and County Road 36 in 

Koochiching County. From this point 

the Blue Route Segment C2 alternative 

would follow the existing Minnkota and 

Minnesota Power 230 kV transmission 

lines east and then head south for 47.0 

miles to the point where the Blue Route 

alternative would follow the existing 

Minnkota Power 230 kV line. 

The Orange Route Segment J2 

alternative would be the same as the 

Orange Route until the line would reach 

approximately 5.0 miles northeast of 

Kelliher. From this point, the Orange 

Route Segment J2 would head southeast 

for 2.5 miles, turn south for 6.0 miles, 

and then proceed southeast for 1.0 mile 

to County Road 1. It would continue 

southeast for 1.0 mile, head east for 24.0 

miles to County Road 6, continuing east 

for another 2.0 miles. The Orange Route 

Segment J2 alternative would then head 

southeast for 3.0 miles, cross TH 1, and 

turn slightly east for 2.0 miles, crossing 

TH 38, where it would join back up 

with the Orange Route alternative. 

Under the No Action alternative, DOE 

would not grant a Presidential permit 

for the proposed project. Under the No 

Action alternative, the EIS assumes for 

purposes of analysis that the proposed 

line and associated facilities would not 

be constructed. 

Identification of Environmental Issues 

The EIS will examine potential public 

health and safety effects and 

environmental impacts in the U.S. from 

the proposed transmission facilities. 

This notice is intended to inform 

agencies and the public of the proposed 

project, and to solicit comments and 

suggestions for consideration in the 

preparation of the EIS. To help the 

public frame its comments, the 

following is a list of examples of several 

potential environmental issues that DOE 

has identified for analysis: 

1. Protected, threatened, endangered, 

or sensitive species of animals or plants, 

or their critical habitats: The EIS will 

consider the potential effects of the 

construction and operation of the 

project on protected or candidate 

species, including the Canada lynx 

(federally listed threatened species), 

piping plover (federally listed 

threatened species), Western prairie 

fringed orchid (federally listed 

threatened species), Sprague’s pipit 

(federally listed threatened species), 

Poweshiek skipperling (proposed 

federally listed endangered species as of 

October 24, 2013), Dakota skipper 

(proposed federally listed threatened 

species as of October 24, 2013), and 

Northern long-eared bat (proposed 

federally listed endangered species as of 

October 2, 2013). 

2. Biological resources: The EIS will 

consider the potential effects of the 

construction and operation of the 

project on shellfish, insects, birds and 

other wildlife, as well as effects on 

forests, shrubland, wetland, peatland, 

and grassland plant species, and the 

potential for introduction of invasive 

species. 

3. Floodplains and wetlands: The EIS 

will consider the potential effects of the 

construction and operation of the 

project on freshwater floodplains and 

wetlands, including those associated 

with peatland and lowland forest type 

vegetation, as well as calcareous fens 

communities. 

4. Cultural or historic resources: The 

EIS will consider the potential effects of 

the construction and operation of the 

project on archeological, architectural, 

and Traditional Cultural Properties (i.e., 

properties of religious and cultural 

importance), National Historic 

Landmarks, historic properties currently 

listed and potentially eligible for listing 

on the National Historic Register, 

prehistoric sites, and cultural landscape. 

5. Human health and safety: The EIS 

will consider the nature and potential 

effects of electric and magnetic fields 

that may be generated by the operation 

of the project. 

6. Air quality: The EIS will consider 

the potential effects of the construction 

and operation of the project on air 

quality, including the emission and 

effects of greenhouse gases such as 

carbon dioxide. 

7. Soil: The EIS will consider the 

potential effects of the construction and 

operation of the project on the loss or 

disturbance of soils. 

8. Water resources: The EIS will 

consider the potential effects of the 

construction and operation of the 

project on a diverse set of water 

resource types that are found 

throughout the proposed project area 

including, but not limited to, major 

watersheds, public water inventory 

watercourses and basins, groundwater, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 124 / Friday, June 27, 2014 / Notices 36497 

trout streams, and impaired water 

bodies. 

9. Land use: The EIS will consider the 

potential effects of the installation and 

operation of the project on land uses, 

including agricultural lands, parks, 

recreational areas, and other public 

lands. 

10. Visual resources: The EIS will 

consider the potential effects of the 

installation and operation of the project 

on visual resources, mainly from tower 

structures and conductors that could be 

viewed from residences and where 

recreational trails are either crossed or 

paralleled by route alternatives 

including, but not limited to, potential 

effects to recreational users of the Big 

Fork Canoe and Red Lake Canoe Trails 

in Koochiching County and Beltrami 

County, respectively, and Big Bog State 

Recreation Area in Beltrami County. 

11. Noise: The EIS will consider the 

potential effects of the installation and 

operation of the project on noise levels 

at location(s) along the proposed line as 

well as at the location(s) of the 500-kV 

Blackberry Substation and the 500 kV 

Series Compensation Station. 

12. Socioeconomics: This EIS will 

consider potential impacts on 

community services. 

This list is not intended to be all 

inclusive or to imply any 

predetermination of impacts. DOE 

invites interested parties to suggest 

specific issues within these general 

categories, or other issues not included 

above, to be considered in the EIS. 

Scoping Process 

Interested parties are invited to 

participate in the scoping process, both 

to help define the environmental issues 

to be analyzed and to identify the range 

of reasonable alternatives. DOE invites 

interested agencies, organizations, 

Native American tribes, and members of 

the public to submit comments to assist 

in identifying significant environmental 

issues and in determining the 

appropriate scope of the EIS. Written 

and oral comments will be given equal 

weight. Public scoping meetings will be 

held at the locations, dates, and times as 

indicated below: 

1. Roseau, MN: Roseau Civic Center, 

121 Center Street East, Roseau, MN, 

56751; Wednesday. July 16, 2014, at 

11:00 a.m. 

2. Baudette, MN: Lake of the Woods 

School, 236 15th Ave. SW., Baudette, 

MN, 56623; Wednesday, July 16, 2014, 

at 6:00 p.m. 

3. Littlefork, MN: Littlefork 

Community Center, 220 Main Street, 

Littlefork, MN, 56653; Thursday, July 

17, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. 

4. International Falls, MN: AmericInn, 

1500 Highway 71, International Falls, 

MN, 56649; Thursday, July 17, 2014, 

6:00 p.m. 

5. Kelliher, MN: Kelliher Public 

School, 345 4th Street NW., Kelliher, 

MN, 56650; Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 

at 11:00 a.m. 

6. Bigfork, MN: Bigfork School, 100 

Huskie Boulevard, Bigfork, MN, 56628; 

Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. 

7. Grand Rapids, MN: Sawmill Inn, 

2301 South Hwy 169, Grand Rapids, 

MN, 55744; Thursday, July 24, 2014, at 

11:00 a.m. 

8. Grand Rapids, MN: Sawmill Inn, 

2301 South Hwy 169, Grand Rapids, 

MN, 55744; Thursday, July 24, 2014, at 

6:00 p.m. 

The scoping meetings will be 

structured in two parts: first, a 

‘‘workshop’’ period with presentations 

on the proposed GNTL Project, and the 

state and federal decisions, followed by 

informal discussion that will not be 

recorded; and, second, the formal taking 

of comments with transcription by a 

court stenographer. The meetings will 

provide interested parties the 

opportunity to view proposed project 

exhibits, ask questions, and make 

comments. The Applicant, DOE, and 

MN DOC–EERA will be available to 

answer questions and provide 

additional information to attendees to 

the extent that additional information is 

available at this early stage of the 

proceedings. 

Persons submitting comments during 

the scoping process, whether orally or 

in writing, will receive either paper or 

electronic copies of the draft EIS, 

according to their preference. Persons 

who do not wish to submit comments or 

suggestions at this time but who would 

like to receive a copy of the document 

for review and comment when it is 

issued should notify Julie Ann Smith as 

provided above, with their paper-orelectronic preference. 

EIS Preparation and Schedule 

In preparing the draft EIS, DOE will 

consider comments submitted during 

the scoping period. They can be 

submitted to Julie Ann Smith either 

electronically or by paper copy; if the 

latter, consider using a delivery service 

because materials submitted by regular 

mail are subject to security screening, 

which both causes extended delay and 

potential damage to the contents. DOE 

will summarize all comments received 

in a ‘‘Scoping Report’’ that will be 

available on a project EIS Web site, and 

will be distributed either electronically 

to all parties of record for whom we 

have an email address, or by mailing 

paper copies upon request. DOE and the 

MN DOC–EERA expect to issue the draft 

GNTL EIS in February 2015 and the 

final EIS in July 2015. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 23, 

2014. 

Patricia A. Hoffman, 

Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity 

Delivery and Energy Reliability. 

[FR Doc. 2014–15070 Filed 6–26–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

New Information Collection 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice and Request for 

Comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy 

(DOE) invites public comment on a 

proposed collection of information that 

DOE is developing for submission to the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed 

collection of information relates to 

DOE’s Superior Energy Performance 

certification program. Comments are 

invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on respondents, including through the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

DATES: Comments regarding this 

proposed information collection must 

be received on or before August 26, 

2014. If you anticipate difficulty in 

submitting comments within that 

period, contact the person listed in 

ADDRESSES as soon as possible. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be 

sent to Paul Scheihing, EE–5A/Forrestal 

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20585, by fax at 

202–586–9234, or by email at 

paul.scheihing@ee.doe.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 


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