Source: https://legalectric.org/weblog/date/2013/07/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 06:24:46+00:00

Document:
PUC issues Goodhue Wind order!!!
1) The Commission will require the project to make a filing within 14 days in which it either surrenders its site permit or states that it intends to begin construction by August 23. If the project states that it intends to begin construction by August 23, it must demonstrate its ability to do so.
If the project states that it intends to begin construction by August 23, it must also provide by that date a more comprehensive response to the Commission’s request in section IV of the March 20 order that it investigate and respond to comments by members of the public alleging deficiencies in its performance on wildlife monitoring and protection issues. It must also file a summary of the March 27, 2013 site visit, referred to in its April 17 letter, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Energy Facility Permitting Staff of the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
The Commission has declined to extend the certificate of need for this project for the reasons set forth above; therefore, any construction of the project must proceed under the exemption provisions of Minn. Stat. § 216B.243. The Commission hereby gives notice of its intent to revoke the site permit if the project has neither surrendered its site permit nor filed an exemption petition by August 23, 2013.
The commission shall require that C-BED projects provide sufficient security to secure performance under the power purchase agreement, and shall prohibit transfer of a C-BED project during the initial term of a power purchase agreement if the transfer will result in the project no longer qualifying under subdivision 2, paragraph (h).
Subdivision 10 Does Not Make the Anti-Transfer Provision of Subdivision 3 (c) Inapplicable to New Era… This subdivision does not repeal subdivision 3, and its provisions do not conflict with the anti-transfer provision subdivision 3 contains. It does not invalidate or otherwise free existing C-BED projects from the statutory prohibition on ownership transfers that result in existing C-BED projects failing to qualify under the eligibility criteria of subdivision 2, paragraph (h).
1. The Commission denies the project’s April 17 request to hold the case in abeyance and its June 18 request for an extension of time.
2. The Commission finds that the project violated the anti-transfer provision of Minn. Stat. § 216B.1612, subd. 3 (c) and that the transfer of power purchase agreements that occurred is prohibited.
3. The Commission declines to recertify the certificate of need due to New Era’s failure to demonstrate that it will comply with the Commission’s orders and due to its failure to show that it is prepared to move forward with the project for which the certificate of need was obtained, including the failure to specify a current in-service date.
4. Within 14 days of the date of this order, New Era shall either surrender its site permit or show cause that it intends to begin construction by August 23 and that its site permit should not be revoked. If the project states that it intends to begin construction by August 23, it shall demonstrate that it is able to begin construction by that date.
5. If New Era makes a filing stating that it intends to begin construction by August 23, it shall provide by that date a more comprehensive response to the Commission’s request in section IV of the March 20 order that it investigate and respond to comments by members of the public alleging deficiencies in its performance on wildlife monitoring and protection issues.
6. If New Era makes a filing stating that it intends to begin construction by August 23, it shall provide by that date a summary of the March 27, 2013 site visit, referred to in its April 17 letter, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Energy Facility Permitting Staff of the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
7. The Commission gives notice of its intent to revoke the project’s site permit if it has neither surrendered its site permit nor filed a certificate of need exemption petition by August 23, 2013.
8. This Order shall become effective immediately.
I’d like to see the address for Red Wing Township!!! But it looks like they got the names and addresses straightened out by the second mailing.
#2 of 3: And the MPCA Rulemaking!
As if two rulemakings at the EQB, in addition to development of “standards and criteria” for silica sand mining, isn’t enough, as if a rulemaking at the DNR wasn’t enough, well, here we go with a fourth silica sand rulemaking going on at the same time.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Agency) is requesting comments on plans to amend rules relating to silica sand projects as directed by the 2013 Legislature. The Agency may amend Chapters 7011 (standards of performance for specific types of facilities), 7001 (water permitting), 7007 (air permitting), 7009 (air standards), 7017 (air testing), 7050 (water standards), or other related and affected chapters.
Subject of Rules: The Agency requests comments on plans to amend its rules or establish new rules pertaining to the control of particulate emissions and other pollutants from silica sand projects that may affect the state’s air or water resources.
As will be discussed in this rulemaking, “silica sand” is well-rounded, sand-sized grains of quartz that is commercially valuable for use in the hydraulic fracturing of shale to obtain oil and natural gas. Silica sand does not include common rock, stone, aggregate, gravel, sand with a low quartz level, or silica compounds recovered as a by-product of metallic mining.
“Silica sand project” means the excavation, mining and processing of silica sand; the washing, cleaning, screening, crushing, filtering, drying, sorting, stockpiling and storing of silica sand, either at the mining site or at any other site; the hauling and transporting of silica sand; or a facility for transporting silica sand to destinations by rail, barge, truck or other means of transportation.
The Legislature has directed the Agency to adopt rules pertaining to particulate emissions from silica sand projects. The Agency will also consider adopting rules to control other potential pollutants from silica sand projects, such as those that might contribute to water pollution. This Request for Comments is the Agency’s initial notice of its intent to begin rulemaking. This is only the first of several opportunities for public comment and input on this rulemaking.
Persons Affected: The Agency’s planned rulemaking potentially affects any owner or operator of an existing or proposed silica sand project and those persons potentially impacted by particle emissions or water discharges from silica sand projects.
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall adopt rules pertaining to the control of particulate emissions from silica sand projects. The rulemaking is exempt from Minnesota Statutes, § 14.125.” The exemption from § 14.125 is that the Agency is not limited by an 18- month time limit to adopt, amend, or repeal rules following legislative direction. Further, the Agency plans to use existing general authorities under § 115.03, subds. 1(e) and (g); 5, and 5c; and § 116.07, subd. 4(b) to maintain rules that protect state waters.
Public Comment: The Agency presently has no proposed rules on which to comment, but encourages interested parties to submit written comments or information regarding the Agency’s plans to amend rules on this subject until 4:30 p.m. on September 30, 2013. The Agency cannot publish a Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules until at least 60-days from the date of this Request for Comments. Comments or information should be submitted to the Agency contact at the address below.
Note: Written comments received in response to this notice will not necessarily be included in the formal rulemaking record submitted to the administrative law judge if and when a proceeding to adopt rules is started. The Agency is required to submit to the judge only those written comments received in response to the rules proposed in a Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules. If you submit written comments in response to this notice or during the development of the rules, and you want to ensure that the administrative law judge reviews those comments, you should resubmit those same comments in accordance with the instructions found in the Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules.
The Agency does not anticipate that the rule amendments will require a local government to adopt or amend an ordinance or other regulation under Minnesota Statutes, § 14.128. Local governments are welcome to submit written information to the contrary if this belief is incorrect.
Alternative Format: Upon request, this information can be made available in an alternative format, such as large print, Braille or audio. To make such a request, please contact the rule process contact person at the telephone number or address listed above.
#1 of 2: And the DNR rulemaking!
First, the DNR’s release, found in the State Register while looking up MPCA rules.
Subject of Rules. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requests comments on its possible rules governing reclamation of silica sand mines. The Department is considering rules that would control possible adverse environmental effects of silica sand mining, preserve natural resources, and encourage planning of future land utilization. The rules may address other reclamation issues that come up during the rulemaking process.
Persons Affected. The rules would likely affect entities that are proposing to mine or are mining silica sand, local units of government that regulate silica sand mining, and citizens and companies located in the proximity of proposed or existing silica sand mining operations.
Statutory Authority. Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 114, Article 4, Section 105 (b) requires the Department to adopt rules for reclamation of silica sand mines.
Public Comment. Interested persons or groups may submit comments or information on these possible rules in writing until further notice is published in the State Register that the Department intends to adopt or to withdraw the rules. The Department will not publish a notice of intent to adopt the rules until more than 60 days have elapsed from the date of this request for comments. The Department does not plan to appoint an advisory committee to comment on the possible rules. However, the Department may consult with the silica sand technical assistance team assembled by the Environmental Quality Board pursuant to Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 114, Article 4, Section 91.

References: § 216
 § 216
 § 14
 § 14
 § 115
 § 116
 § 14