Important Megaload Development

All,

Exxon/Imperial Oil has announced that they are seeking permits from the state of Washington to transport megaloads along US Highway 395 from the Port of Pasco. It has been reported that (49) full-sized megaloads have recently arrived at the Port of Pasco, and that oil companies are waiting for permits to begin transporting them. Once the modules are reduced in height, and if they receive permits, the modules will travel on the four-lane US 395 and then east on I-90 across Washington, Idaho, and into Montana before heading north up to Alberta, Canada.

This is a mega-development because the (49) modules were originally planned to be shipped to the Port of Lewiston and then trucked along US 12 in Idaho/Montana. But because of "unanticipated delays in getting permits" Exxon/Imperial Oil has started using the Port of Pasco, which is further downstream, and near the Tri-Cities. It is important to note that Exxon/Imperial Oil has not officially withdrawn their permit applications to transport modules up US 12, and they are still saying that they remain interested. But this a step in the right direction.

We would like to recognize the following groups, in no particular order, for all the incredible work they have been doing over the past (18) months to stop the assault of our wild & scenic byways:

Fighting Goliath, Advocates for the West, Idaho Chapter Sierra Club, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Idaho Rivers United, No North Idaho Transport Corridor, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, Portland Rising Tide, Northern Rockies Rising Tide, Northern Rockies Earth First!, Save Our Wild Salmon, All Against the Haul, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Montana Chapter Sierra Club, Montana Environmental Information Center, Rainforest Action Network, Natural Resources Defense Council, Indigenous Environmental Network, the Nez Perce Tribe and of course, the Missoula County Commissioners.

We also want to recognize and thank the countless citizens, tribal members, and local business owners that worked incredibly hard to protect US 12 and the Wild & Scenic Middle Fork Clearwater/Lochsa rivers from becoming a permanent "high and wide" industrial corridor. We cannot thank you all enough.

In no way do we feel that the battle on US 12 is over, but the fact that Exxon/Imperial Oil is barging megaloads to another Port is a reason to tip the cap to each and every one of you. This development does not necessarily bring relief to the communities along the US 95 corridor, nor do we wish this project upon those that live along US 395 in Washington. Perhaps most importantly, this does not stop the planetary destruction and indigenous genocide occurring around the Tar Sands in Alberta, Canada. The struggle to keep megaloads out of the Clearwater Valley is simply one piece of a much larger puzzle.

On a related note, you still have time to submit a comment to the Army Corps of Engineers as they consider the Port of Lewiston’s application to expand their docks/facilities. Deadline for public comment is Monday August 22nd. Click here to learn more:

http://www.friendsoftheclearwater.org/node/1080.

And if you want to watch a documentary about the Alberta Tar Sands, the film Tipping Point will be shown at the Kenworthy Theater in Moscow on Tuesday August 30th at 7pm. Email Helen Yost for details :

helen.yost@vandals.uidaho.edu or check out the theater's website http://www.kenworthy.org/index.html.


Just Say No To Megaloads!

Brett & Gary