<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>service corporations; requiring a report;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>sections 117.225; 216E.03, subdivision 7; Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>section 117.189.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 117.189, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var><b>117.189 PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION EXCEPTIONS.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var> Sections 
         <statute_ref>117.031</statute_ref>; 
         <statute_ref>117.036</statute_ref>; 
         <statute_ref>117.055</statute_ref>, subdivision 2, paragraph (b); 
         <statute_ref>117.186</statute_ref>; 
         <statute_ref>117.187</statute_ref>; <br/>
<statute_ref><a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>117.188
         </statute_ref>; and 
         <statute_ref>117.52</statute_ref>, subdivisions 1a and 4, do not apply to the use of eminent domain <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>authority by public service corporations for any purpose other than construction or <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>expansion of:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>(1) a high-voltage transmission line of 100 kilovolts or more, or ancillary <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>substations; or<br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>(2) a natural gas, petroleum, or petroleum products pipeline, or ancillary compressor <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>stations or pumping stations. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>    For purposes of an award of appraisal fees under section 
         <statute_ref>117.085</statute_ref>, the fees awarded <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>may not exceed $1,500 for all types of property except for a public service corporation's <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>use of eminent domain for a high-voltage transmission line, where the award may not <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>exceed $3,000.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>For purposes of this section, "pipeline" does not include a natural gas distribution <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>line transporting gas to an end user.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>and applies to eminent domain proceedings or actions commenced on or after that date. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>"Commenced" means when service of notice of the petition under Minnesota Statutes, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>section 117.055, is made.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 117.225, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var><b>117.225 EASEMENT DISCHARGE.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>Whenever claiming that an easement acquired by condemnation is not being used for <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>the purposes for which it was acquired, the underlying fee owner may apply to the district <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>court of the county in which the land is situated for an order discharging the easement, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>upon such terms as are just and equitable. Due notice of said application shall be given <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>to all interested parties. Provided, however, this section shall not apply to easements <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>acquired by condemnation by a public service corporation now or hereafter doing business <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>in the state of Minnesota for any purpose other than construction or expansion of:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>(1) a high-voltage transmission line of 100 kilovolts or more, including ancillary <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>substations; or<br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>(2) a natural gas, petroleum, or petroleum products pipeline, including ancillary <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>compressor stations or pumping stations.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>For purposes of this section, "pipeline" does not include a natural gas distribution <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>line transporting gas to an end user.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>and applies to eminent domain proceedings or actions commenced on or after that date. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>"Commenced" means when service of notice of the petition under Minnesota Statutes, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>section 117.055, is made.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 216E.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>    Subd. 7. <b>Considerations in designating sites and routes.</b> (a) The commission's <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>site and route permit determinations must be guided by the state's goals to conserve <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>resources, minimize environmental impacts, minimize human settlement and other land <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>use conflicts, and ensure the state's electric energy security through efficient, cost-effective <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>power supply and electric transmission infrastructure. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var> (b) To facilitate the study, research, evaluation, and designation of sites and routes, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>the commission shall be guided by, but not limited to, the following considerations:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>(1) evaluation of research and investigations relating to the effects on land, water <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>and air resources of large electric power generating plants and high-voltage transmission <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>lines and the effects of water and air discharges and electric and magnetic fields resulting <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>from such facilities on public health and welfare, vegetation, animals, materials and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>aesthetic values, including baseline studies, predictive modeling, and evaluation of new or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>improved methods for minimizing adverse impacts of water and air discharges and other <br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>matters pertaining to the effects of power plants on the water and air environment;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>(2) environmental evaluation of sites and routes proposed for future development and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>expansion and their relationship to the land, water, air and human resources of the state;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>(3) evaluation of the effects of new electric power generation and transmission <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>technologies and systems related to power plants designed to minimize adverse <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>environmental effects;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>(4) evaluation of the potential for beneficial uses of waste energy from proposed <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>large electric power generating plants;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>(5) analysis of the direct and indirect economic impact of proposed sites and routes <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>including, but not limited to, productive agricultural land lost or impaired;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>(6) evaluation of adverse direct and indirect environmental effects that cannot be <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>avoided should the proposed site and route be accepted;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>(7) evaluation of alternatives to the applicant's proposed site or route proposed <br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>pursuant to subdivisions 1 and 2;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>(8) evaluation of potential routes that would use or parallel existing railroad and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>highway rights-of-way;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>(9) evaluation of governmental survey lines and other natural division lines of <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>agricultural land so as to minimize interference with agricultural operations;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>(10) evaluation of the future needs for additional high-voltage transmission lines <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>in the same general area as any proposed route, and the advisability of ordering the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>construction of structures capable of expansion in transmission capacity through multiple <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>circuiting or design modifications;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>(11) evaluation of irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources should the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>proposed site or route be approved; and<br/>
<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>(12) when appropriate, consideration of problems raised by other state and federal <br/>
<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>agencies and local entities.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>(c) If the commission's rules are substantially similar to existing regulations of a <br/>
<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>federal agency to which the utility in the state is subject, the federal regulations must <br/>
<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>be applied by the commission.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>(d) No site or route shall be designated which violates state agency rules.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.33"></a><var>3.33</var>(e) The commission must make specific findings that it has considered locating a <br/>
<a id="pl.3.34"></a><var>3.34</var>route for a high-voltage transmission line on an existing high-voltage transmission route <br/>
<a id="pl.3.35"></a><var>3.35</var>and the use of parallel existing highway right-of-way and, to the extent those are not used <br/>
<a id="pl.3.36"></a><var>3.36</var>for the route, the commission must state the reasons.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment <br/>
<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var>and applies to route applications filed on and after that date.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.4.0"></a><a id="pl.4.3"></a><var>4.3</var>    Sec. 4. <b>TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTING.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.4"></a><var>4.4</var>(a) The Public Utilities Commission and the commissioner of transportation must <br/>
<a id="pl.4.5"></a><var>4.5</var>cooperate to implement the policy in Minnesota Statutes, section 216E.03, subdivision 7, <br/>
<a id="pl.4.6"></a><var>4.6</var>paragraph (e).<br/>
<a id="pl.4.7"></a><var>4.7</var>(b) The commission must report any statutory amendments required for the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.8"></a><var>4.8</var>implementation of Minnesota Statutes, section 216E.03, subdivision 7, paragraph (e) <br/>
<a id="pl.4.9"></a><var>4.9</var>to the chairs and ranking minority members of the energy and transportation policy <br/>
<a id="pl.4.10"></a><var>4.10</var>committees of the legislature by January 15, 2011.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.11"></a><var>4.11</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>