[Vision2020] [corrected] Megaload Revised Plan is Not Any Better

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (May 14, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Megaload revised plan is not any better

After what Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil cited as "three years of careful
planning," and supposedly a thorough review of the plan by the Idaho
Transportation Department, Exxon's "test validation module" left Lewiston
on April 11 and entered Montana 23 days later. Along the way IO/EM closed
U.S. Highway 12 to all traffic for an hour between Kamiah and Orofino,
knocked out electricity for up to five hours to 1,300 homes and
businesses, and was stalled in turnouts for 20 days.

The revised plan required the replacement of more power poles and other
overhead line adjustments. Also required was the shearing of thousands of
tree limbs extending 3-8 feet beyond the highway's edge on more than 100
miles of roadway, including within the Lochsa and Middlefork Clearwater
River Wild and Scenic River Corridor. Multiple (out-of-state) crews using
up to 40 vehicles spent at least eight days in this effort, and the Forest
Service now states these crews will come back soon for what will be the
fourth round of tree butchering along Highway 12 - all approved by the
Idaho Transportation Department.

ITD continues to support issuing permits for 200-plus Exxon modules and is
unable to tell the public how many more the "plus" represents. This state
agency has attempted to defend its actions in a lengthy contested case
hearing and is probably also willing to spend more taxpayer money
supporting in court the wishes of the largest, most profitable corporation
in the world.

Linwood Laughy, Kooskia

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Seeya round town, 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 ~