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Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

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Description of Site and Environment<br />

Table 2-1.<br />

Monticello Transmission Line Rights-of-Way<br />

No. of Approximate Corridor Corridor<br />

Substation Lines kV Distance (mi) Corridor Width (ft) Area (ac)<br />

Sherburne 1 345 43 Monticello-Coon Varies from 750<br />

County Creek 125 to 240<br />

Elm Creek 1 345 37 Monticello- Varies from 957<br />

Parkers Lake 165 to 240<br />

Source: Xcel Energy 2005a<br />

Major portions of both corridors pass through rural areas, utilizing railroad rights-of-way and<br />

highways where possible. The Monticello-Coon Creek corridor is predominantly cultivated fields<br />

with scattered forests and some wetlands. The Monticello-Parkers Lake corridor is a mix of<br />

agriculture, rural residential, scattered forests, and wetlands (NMC 2005a). Vegetation control<br />

within the transmission line corridors is performed every four years to ensure the continued<br />

reliability of the lines. Vegetation control includes removing or trimming woody vegetation to<br />

ensure adequate line clearance and to allow vehicle access along the corridor. Qualified<br />

line-clearance tree trimmers manually cut and prune using approved mechanical equipment<br />

and perform selective application of approved herbicides to remove all tall-growing trees and<br />

brush from the complete width of the corridor (Xcel Energy 2005b).<br />

2.2 Plant Interaction with the Environment<br />

Sections 2.2.1 through 2.2.8 provide general descriptions of the environment near Monticello as<br />

background information. They also provide detailed descriptions where needed to support the<br />

analysis of potential environmental impacts of refurbishment and operation during the renewal<br />

term, as discussed in Chapters 3 and 4. Section 2.2.9 describes the historic and archaeological<br />

resources in the area, and Section 2.2.10 describes possible impacts associated with other<br />

Federal project activities.<br />

2.2.1 Land Use<br />

The Monticello site is located in the City of Monticello, Wright County, Minnesota, on the<br />

southern bank of the Mississippi River. The nearest large city is St. Cloud, 22 mi northwest and<br />

upstream of the Monticello site. The Twin Cities area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and its<br />

surrounding suburbs, is approximately 30 mi southeast and downstream of the site. This is the<br />

largest urban area within 50 mi of the site exerting a strong influence on the region as the<br />

surrounding cities and townships respond to the Twin City area's demand for suburban<br />

development.<br />

NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 2-14 August 2006 1

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