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EL19-012 - In the Matter of the Application by Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC for Facility Permits for a Wind Energy Facility and a 230-kV Transmission Facility in Hand County, South Dakota for the Sweetland Wind Farm Project
Date Filed: 03/06/19 ♦ Intervention Date: 05/06/19 ♦
Date of Notice of Filing: 03/07/19 ♦ Pending
Date of Notice of Filing: 03/07/19 ♦ Pending
Agendas:
March 19, 2019, Agenda of Commission Meeting
May 14, 2019, Agenda of Commission Meeting
July 9, 2019, Agenda of Commission Meeting
July 25, 2019, Agenda of Commission Meeting
November 26, 2019, Agenda of Commission Meeting
January 19, 2021, Agenda of Commission Meeting
October 11, 2022, Agenda of Commission Meeting
October 10, 2023, Agenda of Commission Meeting
January 23, 2024, Agenda of Commission Meeting
Minutes:
Minutes of March 19, 2019 Commission Meeting
Minutes of May 14, 2019 Commission Meeting
Minutes of July 9, 2019 Commission Meeting
Contact Precision Reporting to order a written transcript of EL19-012
Minutes of July 25, 2019 Commission Meeting
Minutes of November 26, 2019, Commission Meeting
Minutes of the January 19, 2021, Commission Meeting
Minutes of the October 11, 2022 Commission Meeting
Minutes of the October 10, 2023, Commission Meeting
Minutes of the January 23, 2024, Commission Meeting
A public input hearing on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., CDT, at the Miller Community Center, 526 N. Broadway Ave., Miller, South Dakota
- Notice of Application; Order for and Notice of Public Input Hearing; Notice of Opportunity to Apply for Party Status
- Energy Conversion & Electric Transmission Facilities Siting Info Guide
- Party Status Application
- Sign In Sheet
- Presentation
- Recording
- Comments of Dean Lockner
- Comments of Dean Lockner Confidential (not available to the public)
- Comments of Deb Bonebright
- Comments of Deb Bonebright Confidential (not available to the public)
- Comments of Candice Lockner
- Comments of Candice Lockner Confidential (not available to the public)
- Comments of Cindy Eilers
- Comments of Cindy Eilers Confidential (not available to the public)
- Comments of Eleanor Iverson
- Comments of Joan and Wayne Horsley
- Comments of Joan and Wayne Horsley Confidential (not available to the public)
- Contact Precision Reporting to order a written transcript
Click For Comments and Responses
Orders:- 03/08/19 - Notice of Application; Order for and Notice of Public Input Hearing; Notice of Opportunity to Apply for Party Status
- 03/21/19 - Order Assessing Filing Fee; Order Authorizing Executive Director to Enter Into Consulting Contacts
- 05/15/19 - Order Granting Party Status and Establishing Procedural Schedule
- 07/11/19 - Order Granting Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation Between Applicant and Intervenor and Granting Withdrawal of Party Status
- 07/31/19 - Order Granting Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation; Order Granting Permit to Construct Facility; Notice of Entry
- 11/27/19 - Order Granting Request for Approval of Transmission Line Adjustments, Turbine Model Change, and Turbine Adjustments
- 01/21/21 - Order Granting Motion for Exemption from Settlement Stipulation Condition No. 35
- 10/12/22 - Order Granting Request for Approval of Transmission Line Adjustments
- 10/12/23 - Order Approving Escrow Agreement
- 01/25/24 - Order Granting Motion for Release of Road and Public Infrastructure Bond
Filed Documents:
- 03/06/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Application
- Application
- Appendix A - Figures
- Figure A-1 - Project Location
- Figure A-2 - Project Layout
- Figure A-3 - Turbine Diagram
- Figure A-4 - Transmission Facility Structure Diagram
- Figure A-5 - Siting Constraints
- Figure A-6 - Topography
- Figure A-7a - Surficial Geology
- Figure A-7b - Surface Geology Cross-Section
- Figure A-7c - Bedrock Geology
- Figure A-8 - Soil Types
- Figure A-9 - Water Resources
- Figure A-10 - Land Use
- Figure A-11 - Public Lands and Conservation Easements
- Appendix B - Agency Coordination
- Appendix C - Hand County Documents
- Appendix D - Setback Requirements
- Appendix E - Native Grasslands Habitat Report
- Appendix F - Presence/Absence Surveys for Northern Long-Eared Bat
- Appendix G - Whooping Crane Habitat Review
- Appendix H - Eagle and Raptor Nest Surveys
- Appendix I - Avian Studies
- Appendix J - Acoustic Bat Surveys
- Appendix K - Wetland Delineation Report
- Appendix L - Sound Study
- Appendix M - Shadow Flicker Analysis
- Appendix N - Airspace and Communications Systems
- Appendix O - Cultural Resources Report
- Appendix O - Cultural Resources Report Confidential (not available to the public)
- Appendix O - Cultural Resources Report Confidential (not available to the public)
- Appendix P - Decommissioning Plan
- Pre-Filed Direct Testimony of Mark Wengierski
- Pre-Filed Direct Testimony of Carrie Barton
- Pre-Filed Direct Testimony of Robert O’Neal
- Pre-Filed Direct Testimony of Douglas Shaver
- Pre-Filed Direct Testimony of Todd Mabee
- Appendix A - Figures
- Application
- 03/19/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Proofs of Mailing
- 03/20/19 - PUC Staff's Letter regarding Notice for Newspapers
- 04/11/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Letter to PUC Staff
- 04/11/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Landowners Notice
- 04/24/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Affidavit of Publication
- The Miller Press' Affidavit of Publication (3/20/19 & 3/27/19)
- 04/24/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Revised A-2
- 04/26/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Public Input Meeting Presentation
- 04/29/19 - PUC Staff's First Set of Data Requests to Applicant Certificate of Service
- 05/02/19 - PUC Staff's Motion for Adoption of Procedural Schedule
- 05/10/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Response to Staff's Motion for Adoption of Procedural Schedule
- 05/20/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Supplemental Testimonies
- 05/22/19 - The Miller Press' Affidavit of Publication (4/3/19 & 4/24/19)
- 05/22/19 - Huron Plainsman's Affidavit of Publication (4/3/19 & 4/24/19)
- 05/30/19 - PUC Staff's Letter, Thomas Kirschenmann's Subpoena, Admission of Service (unsigned)
- 05/30/19 - PUC Staff's Letter, Paige Olson's Subpoena, Admission of Service (unsigned)
- 06/18/19 - Intervenor Theresa Lichty's Testimony
- 06/19/19 - Staff's Pre-filed Direct Testimony
- 06/26/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Settlement Stipulation
- Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation
- Settlement Stipulation by and among Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC, and Intervenor Theresa Lichty
- Certificate of Service
- 07/10/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Rebuttal Testimonies
- 07/11/19 - PUC Staff's Letter regarding US Fish and Wildlife Service's Comments
- 07/18/19 - Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation (Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC and PUC Staff)
- 07/18/19 - PUC Staff's Letter regarding Responses to Staff's Data Requests
- Responses to Staff's Data Requests
- Responses to Staff's Data Requests Confidential (not available to the public)
- Responses to Staff's Data Requests
- 11/18/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 25 Compliance Filing
- Affidavit of Mark Wengierski in Support of Request for Approval of Transmission Line Adjustments
- Exhibit A - Letter from Western Area Power Administration
- Exhibit B - Transmission Line Adjustment Map
- Exhibit B - Transmission Line Adjustment Map Confidential (not available to the public)
- Exhibit C - Addendum 2 to Level III Intensive Cultural Resources Inventory
Report Confidential (not available to the public) - Exhibit D - Wetland Delineation Report
- Certificate of Service
- 11/18/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 23 Compliance Filing
- Affidavit of Mark Wengierski in Support of Request for Approval of Turbine
Model Change and Turbine Adjustments - Exhibit A – Figure of Proposed Layout
- Exhibit B – Updated Sound and Shadow Flicker Analyses Memorandum
- Exhibit C – Stevens Shadow Flicker Waiver
- Exhibit D – Turbine Adjustment Map
- Exhibit D – Turbine Adjustment Map Confidential (not available to the public)
- Exhibit E – Turbine Adjustment Summary Chart
- Exhibit F – Addendum 2 to the Level III Intensive Cultural Resource Survey
Report Confidential (not available to the public) - Exhibit G – Wetland Delineation Report
- Certificate of Service
- Affidavit of Mark Wengierski in Support of Request for Approval of Turbine
- 11/22/19 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Response to Staff Regarding Conditions 23 and 25
- 01/08/21 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 35 Compliance Filing
- 03/10/21 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition Nos. 1, 15, 30 and 36
- Condition 1 - South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources Grant of Coverage Under NPDES General Permit Authorizing Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities Under the South Dakota Surface Water Discharge System, Permit No. SDR10K132 (Substation)
- Condition 1 - Findings of the Hand County Board of Adjustment Issuing Conditional Use Permits for Sweetland’s Substation and Switchyard
- Condition 15 - Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (Substation)
- Condition 30 - Figure Showing the Most Current Preconstruction Design, Layout and Plans
- Condition 30 - Updated Sound and Shadow Flicker Analyses Memorandum
- Condition 36 - Bird and Bat Conservation Strategy
- Certificate of Service
- 03/10/21 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 23
- 04/20/21 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Project Update
- 10/04/22 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 25
- Affidavit of Mark Wengierski in Support of Request for Approval of Transmission Line Adjustments
- Exhibit A - Transmission Line Adjustment Map
- Exhibit A - Transmission Line Adjustment Map Confidential (not available to the public)
- Exhibit B - Addendum 5 to the Level III Intensive Cultural Resource Survey Report Confidential (not available to the public)
- Exhibit C - Wetland Delineation Report
- Certificate of Service
- 10/14/22 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Conditions 1 and 15
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (Laydown Yard) (Condition 15); South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources grant of coverage under NPDES General Permit Authorizing Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities Under the South Dakota Surface Water Discharge System Permit No. SDR10K839 (Laydown Yard) can be found in the SWPPP at pdf pages 100-101 (Condition 1)
- Hand County Building Permit No 92116 (Turbine Laydown Yard) (Condition 1)
- Hand County Driveway and Approach Permit No 12 (Laydown Yard)
(Condition 1) - Certificate of Service
- 02/21/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 9(h)
- 04/25/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding SWPPPs and Permits with Referenced Documents
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (“SWPPP”) (Transmission Line)
- SWPPP (Wind Project)
- Western Area Power Administration (“WAPA”) – Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Document (DOE/EA-2095)
- Western Area Power Administration (“WAPA”) – Revised Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Document (DOE/EA-2095-S1)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”), Huron Wetland Management District – Special Use Permit No. 64110-23-007A (Transmission Line)
- USFWS, Huron Wetland Management District – Special Use Permit No. 64110-23-024A (Collection Line)
- Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) – Determinations of No Hazard (turbines and permanent meteorological tower)
- South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources (“SD DANR”) – Notice of Coverage under NPDES General Permit Authorizing Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities Under the South Dakota Surface Water Discharge System, Permit No. SDRP10P277 (Transmission Line)
- SD DANR – Notice of Coverage under NPDES General Permit Authorizing Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction
Activities Under the South Dakota Surface Water Discharge System, Permit No. SDR10K896 (Wind Project)
- South Dakota Department of Transportation (“SD DOT”), Permit to Occupy Right of Way (Temporary intersection modification/truck turning radius for deliveries), Project 045-192
- Hand County – Building Permit No. 92066 (initial dirt and grading work at substation location)
- Hand County – Building Permit Nos. 92138 through 92208 (turbines)
- Hand County – Building Permit Nos. 92210 (permanent meteorological tower) and 92211 (ADLS tower)
- Hand County – Permit to Erect Poles and Wires and to Bury Cable for Electricity in and along Public Highways (December 3, 2019)
- Hand County – Permit to Erect Poles and Wires and to Bury Cable for Electricity in and along Public Highways (February 21, 2023)
- Certificate of Service
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (“SWPPP”) (Transmission Line)
- 09/01/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 42
- 09/27/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 42
- 10/03/23 - Staff's Memorandum
- 10/27/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 23
- Affidavit of Mark Wengierski Providing Notice of Turbine Adjustment Up To 250 Feet
- Exhibit A - Turbine Adjustment Maps
- Exhibit A - Turbine Adjustment Maps Confidential (not available to the public)
- Exhibit B - Turbine Adjustment Summary Chart
- Exhibit C - Updated Sound and Shadow Flicker Analyses Memorandum
- Certificate of Service
- 11/08/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 42
- Escrow Agreement Confidential (not available to the public)
- Certificate of Service
- 12/19/23 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 9(h)
- 01/25/24 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC’s Letter regarding Condition 9(h)
- 04/02/24 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 31
- 04/16/24 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 31
- 03/25/25 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 42
- 04/03/25 - Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC's Letter regarding Condition 33
