OAH 15-2500-20599-2

PUC No.  E-002/TL-09-38

 

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

 

FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

 

In the Matter of the Application for a High Voltage Transmission Line Route Permit for the Hiawatha Transmission Project

ORDER GRANTING INTERVENTION TO SEWARD NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, INC., AND

CORCORAN NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION

 

 

          On December 14, 2009, Seward Neighborhood Group, Incorporated, (Seward Group) filed a Petition to Intervene in this proceeding pursuant to Minn. R. 1400.6200.  In support of its petition, Seward Group stated that it is a nonprofit organization of citizens in the Seward Neighborhood of South Minneapolis.  It has been recognized by the City of Minneapolis as a citizen participation organization within its boundaries, the railroad right-of-way between approximately 27th and 28th Streets on the south, the Mississippi River on the east, Interstate 94 on the north and the Hiawatha Light Rail line on the west. Its purpose is to improve the quality of life in neighborhood.  A number of the proposed eastern substations for the Hiawatha Transmission Project are located in the Seward Neighborhood.  It seeks to intervene in order to provide information on the impact of the proposed alternatives on the neighborhood, and because it asserts that the proceeding will directly affect its interests and those of the residents and businesses it represents.  It implies in its petition that the current parties to the proceeding will not fully represent its interests.

 

          On December 23, 2009, Corcoran Neighborhood Organization (CNO) also filed a Petition to Intervene in this proceeding.  CNO stated that it is a nonprofit organization of citizens of Corcoran neighborhood, bounded by East Lake Street to the north, East 36th Street to the south, Hiawatha Avenue to the east, and Cedar Avenue to the west.  It acts as a spokesperson and advocate for its community on civic affairs.  CNO asserts that the proposed Route C (28th Street/31st Street) would pass through the neighborhood, and that an overhead routing would have a significant impact on its work to foster transit-oriented redevelopment along Lake Street.  At its December 3, 2008, meeting, the CNO board of directors adopted a resolution opposing any above-ground or below-ground routing of high voltage power lines along East 31st Street.  CNO implies in its petition that the current parties to the proceeding will not fully represent its interests.

 

The current parties to this proceeding, the Applicant (Northern States Power Company), the Office of Energy Security, Midtown Greenway Coalition, City of Minneapolis, Crew2, Inc., Hennepin County, Little Earth of United Tribes and Longfellow Community Council, have not filed an objection to the Seward Group’s or the CNO’s Petitions for Intervention within seven days of service of the petitions.

ORDER

          IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1.               Seward Group’s and CNO’s Petitions to Intervene as a party with full rights are GRANTED.  Each of them shall be subject to the provisions of the Prehearing Order issued on August 11, 2009, and the Revised Scheduling Order filed on December 7, 2009.

2.               Seward Group’s and CNO’s representatives shall be added to the OAH Service List. 

Dated:  January 5, 2010                                   s/Beverly Jones Heydinger

BEVERLY JONES HEYDINGER

Administrative Law Judge

 

Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings

600 North Robert Street

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101

 

Mailing Address:                                                                                                                                                                                Voice:   (651) 361-7900

P.O. Box 64620                                                                                                                                                                                     TTY:      (651) 361-7878

St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0620                                                                                                                                                     Fax:       (651) 361-7936

 

January 5, 2010

 

 

 

 

To All Parties on the E-Docket Service List

 

 

Re:     In the Matter of the Application for a Route Permit for the Hiawatha Transmission Project; OAH No. 15-2500-20599-2

PUC No. E-002/TL-09-38

 

Dear Parties:

 

          The document listed below has been filed with the E-Docket system and served as specified on the E-Docket service list, and served by email.

 

Order Granting Intervention to Seward Neighborhood

Group, Inc., and Corcoran Neighborhood Organization

 

 

                                                                      Sincerely,

 

                                                                      s/Beverly Jones Heydinger

 

                                                                      BEVERLY JONES HEYDINGER

                                                                      Administrative Law Judge

 

                                                                      Telephone: (651) 361-7838

BJH:nh

 

Enclosure