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Project Announcements

The Rural Utilities Service published the Environmental Assessment.

Environmental Assessment Comment Period open until Friday, October 08, 2010.

Review the Preferred Route Option:

Project Status

Minnkota continues to work through the environmental review and permitting process for the Center to Grand Forks Project. In addition to working with the lead federal and state permitting agencies, the Center to Grand Forks Project team has begun meeting with landowners along route options.  

As the lead federal agency, the Rural Utilities Service is required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to conduct an environmental review of the proposed Center to Grand Forks Project. To document the environmental review, the Rural Utilities Service has published an Environmental Assessment that considers a broad range of environmental issues including potential impacts to farmland, threatened and endangered species, wetlands, cultural and historic resources, and  socioeconomics.

The Environmental Assessment was published on September X, 2010 and is available for review at the following locations:

The Rural Utilities Service will use the Environmental Assessment and comments received during the 30-day public and agency comment period to make a decision about whether to loan funds, guarantee a loan, or award a grant for the proposed Center to Grand Forks Project.

Please feel free to log a comment online for the Rural Utilities Service or submit a written comment to:

Dennis Rankin
USDA Rural Development – Utilities Program
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250-1571
dennis.rankin@wdc.usda.gov

All comments on the Environmental Assessment are due by October 8, 2010.

Environmental Permitting Steps

Federal Permitting Process – Rural Utilities Service
  • Public scoping meeting notice published (Completed in November of 2009)
  • Public scoping meetings held with 30-day comment period (Completed in November of 2009)
  • Scoping Report published  (Completed March 2, 2010)
  • Environmental Assessment published with 30-day comment period (Beginning September X, 2010 and complete October 8, 2010)
  • Issue project determination
State Permitting Process – North Dakota Public Service Commission
  • Publish Letter of Intent to file project application
  • File Public Service Commission Certificate of Corridor Compatibility Application
  • Issue finding of complete application and hearing notice
  • Hold public hearings
  • File Public Service Commission Route Permit Application
  • Issue finding of complete application and hearing notice
  • Hold public hearing
  • Issue  project determination

Future Public Opportunities

Moving forward through the federal and state permitting process, the public will continue to have opportunities to be involved in the process as shown in the timeline graphic below.

The project is anticipated to be completed by early 2013. Minnkota will continue to provide information to the public as the Project progresses.