Monthly Archives: January 2015

Invitation to Consult on GNTL

DOE_Logo

Interesting letter arrived today:

GNTL_Invitation to Consult

It says that “DOE is contacting you because you submitted comment(s) related to cultural resources during the open NEPA public scoping period for the proposed GNTL project.”

RRANT Scoping Comment

???

So what does that mean? What’s involved?  Sending info to them?  Sending more Comments?  Attending meetings? A free trip to D.C?  A self-funded trip to International Falls in February?

“Consultation” is a term of art in federal permitting, and is required with all Indian tribes, of which there are several in the area of the project.  In this case, they also specify “the State Historic Preservation Officer” and “the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,” and also “certain individuals and organizations…”

Here’s the  National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA)

Working with Section 106

Energy Development, Transmission and Historic Preservation

Are “historical resources” all that they’re concerned about, is there a special category for “cultural resources?”  Or are different people invited to consult on different categories?

And if this is something I want to do, and it is, I have to “include information about your demonstrated legal or economic relation to the undertaking” … (odd word, that)… ” or to properties potentially affected by the proposed GNTL project…”

UntitledGuess I’d better figure out what I said in those comments first!

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Filed under DOE (Dept of Energy), Presidential Permit

Reply Briefs are filed!

men-in-briefs

Reply Briefs for the Great Northern Transmission Line docket are in:

RRANT Reply Brief

Large Power Intervenors Reply Brief

Large Power Intervenor_FOF

Dept of Commerce Reply Brief

Minnesota Power Reply Brief

Time to take a break and then try on a few for size!

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Filed under Certificate of Need, PUC Filings