Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
Subpart 1.
No
permit required.
The following projects are not considered construction of a
large electric power generating plant or high voltage transmission line and may
be constructed without a permit from the commission:
A. equipment additions at an existing
substation that do not require expansion of the land needed for the substation
and do not involve an increase in the voltage or changes in the location of
existing transmission lines, except that up to the first five transmission line
structures outside the substation may be moved to accommodate the equipment
additions provided the structures are not moved more than 500 feet from the
existing right-of-way;
B. high
voltage transmission lines:
(1) maintenance or
repair of a high voltage transmission line within an existing
right-of-way;
(2) reconductoring or
reconstruction of a high voltage transmission line with no change in voltage
and no change in right-of-way, provided that any new structures that are
installed are not designed for and capable of operation at higher voltage;
or
(3) relocation of a high voltage
transmission line that is required by a local or state agency as part of road,
street, or highway construction; or
C. large electric power generating plants:
(1) maintenance or repair of a large electric
power generating plant;
(2)
modification of a large electric power generating plant to increase efficiency
as long as the capacity of the plant is not increased more than ten percent or
more than 100 megawatts, whichever is greater, and the modification does not
require expansion of the plant beyond the developed portion of the plant site.
If a subsequent modification results in a total of more than 100 megawatts of
additional capacity, this provision does not apply. An increase in efficiency
is a reduction in the amount of Btu's (British Thermal Units) required to
produce a kilowatt hour of electricity at the facility;
(3) refurbishment of a large electric power
generating plant that does not expand the capacity of the plant or expand the
plant beyond the developed portion of the plant site and the refurbishment does
not require a certificate of need from the public utilities
commission;
(4) conversion of the
fuel source of a large electric power generating plant to natural gas, as long
as the plant is not expanded beyond the developed portion of the plant site;
or
(5) start-up of an existing
large electric power generating plant that has been closed for any period of
time at no more than its previous capacity rating and in a manner that does not
involve a change in the fuel or an expansion of the developed portion of the
plant site.
Subp.
2.
Minor alteration.
In the event a modification or other change in an existing
substation, high voltage transmission line, or large electric power generating
plant does not qualify for an exception under this part, the modification or
change may qualify for a minor alteration under part
7850.4800.
Subp. 3.
Notice.
Any person proposing to move transmission line structures under
subpart
1, item A, or to reconductor
or reconstruct a high voltage transmission line under subpart
1, item B, subitem (2), or to
implement changes to a large electric power generating plant under subpart
1, item C, subitem (2), (3),
(4), or (5), must notify the commission in writing at least 30 days before
commencing construction on the modification or change.
