[Vision2020] Questions About Semi-Megaloads in Moscow

[Joe Campbell]

Love this set of comments and questions:

"Some say the Kearl Oil Sands project is destroying the Canadian environment
and killing residents of the area. Still, that leaves plenty of questions
that need answers: Who makes sure delays are only 15 minutes?"

Who cares about the Canadian environment? But if I have to wait in traffic
for more than 15 minutes, there is going to be hell to pay!

On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 5:43 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> Courtesy of today's (May 10, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> OUR VIEW: Questions about semimegaloads in Moscow
> Lee Rozen, for the editorial board
> Posted on: Tuesday, May 10, 2011
>
>
> In the middle of about 60 nights this year, Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil wants
> to send oil equipment convoys that are a block or so long, two lanes wide
> and 16 feet tall rumbling and blinking north through downtown Moscow.
>
> The Korean-built equipment would head from Lewiston via U.S. Highway 95,
> Interstate 90 and Montana to the Kearl Oil Sands in Alberta. To get each
> load from Lewiston to the Benewah County line should take one night
> between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Officials promise traffic delays of no more
> than 15 minutes.
>
> But the travel plan is under review, and neither Idaho nor Montana has
> issued the necessary permits, or said when they will. The Moscow
> semi-megaload route has been chosen because of the delays in getting
> megaloads up the scenic U.S. Highway 12 corridor.
>
> ExxonMobil and Idaho Transportation Department officials have deigned to
> listen to Moscow's concerns about that at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hamilton
> Indoor Recreation Center, 1724 E. F St.
>
> At that meeting. ITD and oil company officials will talk first, and then
> take questions and comments from those who have signed in. Also, you can
> email your thoughts to the ITD at comments at itd.idaho.gov, and the City
> Council at skalasz at ci.moscow.id.us.
>
> Mayor Nancy Chaney apparently has declared the morality of ExxonMobil
> profits, the Kearl Oil Sands project and fossil fuel consumption
> off-limits for discussion Wednesday night.
>
> ExxonMobil made profits of $10.7 billion in first quarter 2011. Some say
> the Kearl Oil Sands project is destroying the Canadian environment and
> killing residents of the area.
>
> Still, that leaves plenty of questions that need answers:
>
> Who makes sure delays are only 15 minutes? What happens if they aren't?
>
> Will all cross-streets in Moscow be closed?
>
> Is it a delay if traffic keeps moving at 15 miles an hour behind the
> convoy? (The ITD says it isn't a delay; federal rules say it is.)
>
> Who pays for moving power lines and stoplights out of the way?
>
> Will this semi-megaload convoy be likely to wake me up when it goes by my
> house or apartment?
>
> Will you notify shippers - and the media so they can alert the public - in
> advance of a convoy?
>
> Once permits are issued, can their terms be changed without notice?
>
> What if state police escorts get called to an emergency? Will that stall
> the convoy?
>
> What if Montana won't let the semi-megaloads in?
>
> Let's hope we hear some good answers.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Seeya there, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "This is the 'Mouse that Roared,' 'David and Goliath' and 'Avatar' all
> rolled into one.  We must remember that the thousands of citizens involved
> in this effort to protect their personal and family safety, their
> businesses and their lifestyles are confronting some of the largest
> international corporations in the world."
>
> - Linwood Laughy
>
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