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United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Minnesota Power Requests Extension for Fond du Lac Development's Safety Inspection Report

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Minnesota Power (MP), a subsidiary of ALLETE, Inc., has submitted a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for an extension to submit the 10th Part 12D Independent Consultant's (IC) Safety Inspection Report for the Fond du Lac Development of the St. Louis River Project. The request is made due to the need for additional time to incorporate the review of recent reports, including those from JF Brennan and Merjent, into the Comprehensive Assessment Report (CAR).

Key Takeaways:

  • Minnesota Power requests a 35-day extension to submit the 10th Part 12D Independent Consultant's (IC) Safety Inspection Report for the Fond du Lac Development of the St. Louis River Project.
  • The field inspection was completed by the IC team from Barr Engineering on June 23, 2025, with no immediate concerns identified.
  • A Probable Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA) and Level Two Risk Analysis (L2RA) workshop was completed on July 23, 2025, with no urgent credible PFMs requiring immediate attention.
  • Reports from JF Brennan and Merjent, regarding the dive inspection of Fond du Lac and the tainter gates, have been recently drafted.
  • MP requests an extension until December 5, 2025, to submit the Comprehensive Assessment Report (CAR) to allow sufficient time for the IC to incorporate the review of recent reports.
  • The FERC's Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM) branch, as well as Ms. Marilyn Sabido, Ms. Angela Damron, and Ms. Aubree Akers from FERC's Chicago Regional Office, participated in the workshop.

Statistics:

  • 35-day extension requested for submitting the 10th Part 12D Independent Consultant's (IC) Safety Inspection Report.
  • Inspection completed by IC team on June 23, 2025.
  • 10th Part 12D Independent Consultant's (IC) Safety Inspection Report to be submitted on December 5, 2025.
  • Reports from JF Brennan and Merjent drafted in September (moderate flows prevented the inspection from being performed earlier).

Sources:

  • ALLETE, Inc. d/b/a Minnesota Power, document submitted to FERC on October 13, 2025.
  • Electronically Filed Regional Engineer, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Chicago Regional Office, on October 13, 2025.

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