Idaho Power is After Your Property

A property owner on Butte Drive was approached this past week by Idaho Power asking for an easement right of way at 25% of the land's value for the purpose of the 500 kV line. Idaho Power will move the line wherever they can find 40% of property owners giving away rights along whatever corridor they can get.

THIS MEANS YOU. DO NOT GIVE YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS AWAY! WARN YOUR NEIGHBORS!

This is an indication that Idaho Power is not serious about looking at designated corridors. Please contact your neighbors on either side, especially the elderly, and warn them to not let any persuasive Idaho Power employees on their property.

We wonder how many Idahoans are being asked for property easements.

Energy Policy Act of 2005

Thanks to a blog comment, I've added links for Section 368 of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005.

This act went through a public scoping comment period (pdf document). Federal agencies, including Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy and Interior, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the States and Tribes came up with designated corridors (Powerpoint presentation) on public lands in 11 western states for the purpose of enhancing the national power grid.

The instructive quotes from the Energy Dept. news report:

"Energy transport corridors are agency-preferred locations where pipelines and transmission lines may be sited and built in the future. Having a network of corridors that could accommodate transportation systems for multiple energy types potentially minimizes the proliferation of energy utility rights-of-way on the Federal landscape. Eighty-two percent of the corridors analyzed in the Final PEIS are located on BLM-managed lands, while 16 percent are on USDA Forest Service lands. The remaining proposed corridor segments are on lands managed by Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service, or by the Department of Defense.

" . . . The Agencies worked closely with local Federal land managers as well as local government agencies to ensure that the proposed corridors were consistent with local land management responsibilities and resource constraints. "
"Energy Corridor Designation in the West"

In other words, the ENTIRETY of the proposed corridors are on federal lands.

We are hoping to persuade the siting committee at Idaho Power to revisit these documents and revise their current corridor over mostly privately owned land to Federal lands designated for this purpose, and ensure that corridors are consistent with local land management responsibilities.

Exclusive Farm Use Designation

It would help to know how many acres of Exclusive Farm Use land are under the red and green zones in the corridor map. You can find this information on your recent tax notices. It will say *ZONED FARM USE-POTENTIAL ADD TAX.

You can also find this at the Malheur County Assessor's Office Property Search site at http://malheurco.org/ by name or tax lot to see if it is designated EFU.

UPDATE Pat Phillips adds this comment: Folks, pretty much anything below the canals is zoned EFU, above the canals is ERU (exclusive range use) except for what is inside a city limit line. It does not have to have irrigation water to be zoned EFU. The soil classifications are 1 through 8, with 1 thru 6 considered good farm ground, 1 being highest. We have very little 7 & 8, especially 8 close in to Ontario, Nyssa, Vale. Most of the 7 & 8 is out like the hills around Harper and Brogan. We have soil maps of the county in our office.

A letter to our Senators

Senators:

For thirty years the people of Oregon have zealously protected the farm land of our State. Now, in total disregard to our long standing land use laws, Idaho Power Utility Company is proposing to put a 500 kilovolt electrical transmission line from north to south through the very productive farm land of northeast Malheur County.

The line will be strung from mega towers 110 to 190 feet in height, positioned every 1300 feet, on 40 ft by 40 ft pads, through an easement 250 feet wide. Please recall that an acre is about 207 ft square, so for approximately every 200 feet this will take an acre of land. This line will swoop to as close as 35 feet from the ground. Please recall that sections of aluminum irrigation hand lines are usually 40 feet long. Irrigation pivot circles can be 600 ft to 1500 ft in length. Wheel lines, designed to travel the width of a field, can also vary in length.

Yet, through an established farming area, absolutely dependent on irrigation, Idaho Power has chosen to set their mega transmission line. They prefer not to go through Canyon County, Idaho, because in the words of Idaho Power, "there are too many residences". The reason there are too many residences is because Idaho has not established a land use priority and allows ANY property not divided since August 29, 1979, to have anywhere from 1 to 4 divisions depending on the county in which the land lies.

Because we have been diligent in protecting our farm land we are now going to be punished for doing so. Our agricultural economy is about the only economy Malheur County has, and now Idaho Power would run a power line which, by their count, is impacting over 300 properties in Malheur County. This is devastating. We need your help.

Please contact the Oregon Department of Energy, the Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Power, and let them know that the present proposed route is unacceptable and in total disregard to Oregon's Land Use Planning Goals. Please STOP THIS TAKING of our ability to make a living, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We need your help and we need it now.

Respectfully, Patricia Phillips, resident of Malheur County

Map of Alternate Corridors

UPDATE Roger drew the previous map, Jean Findley drew the more accurate map (above) of three possible alternate corridors, including the designated BLM corridor along Pacific Power and Light's existing 500 kV right of way. This route crosses no Oregon farmland. You can download a copy of it HERE or under the Maps links at right.

Use this as an attachment when you are sending your letters out. Remember, don't send any letters to Bryan Wolfe at the Hermiston address!

Sunstone Suspends Pipeline Project

VERY GOOD NEWS! 'Evelyn Sayers got a call from Susan Hughes ODOE in charge of the Sunstone (natural gas) pipeline project and it has been "suspended indefinitely" by the company.'

Now we're just hoping for a similar call from Oregon PUC about the Boardman to Hemingway transmission line.

Jeff Merkley's Oregon address

Jeff Merkley's current address can be found at http://www.leg.state.or.us/house/hsedem.htm, where there is an email link. Since he is Speaker of the Oregon House until he goes to the U.S. Senate in January, you can send mail to him while the Oregon legislature is still in session:

Session Address:
Jeff Merkley
900 Court St. NE, 269
Salem, OR 97301
Session Phone:503-986-1200
rep.jeffmerkley@state.or.us

Tractor Meets Tower

A picture sent in by several community members deserves a place here. . .

Make a Donation

We got a good start on our check writing at Monday's meeting, with promises of more. Family donations are running $50-$100, if you can contribute more, it would be much appreciated.

Bob Kemble of Nichols Accounting confirms that donations can be counted as business expenses.

Send your checks (made out to Stop Idaho Power) or make arrangements for donations with:

Grant Kitamura
Murakami Produce Company, LLC
PO Box 9
Ontario, OR 97914
1-800-421-8814
541-889-3131
208-741-6502 (cell)

Monday Nov. 17th Meeting

I talked to Bryan Wolfe of the Energy Siting Council. This is the council that actually has the power to condemn land. He said he would accept mail from me as a contact but didn't want to be inundated with letters, so please don't send any letters to the Hermiston address! You can send them to:

Energy Siting Council
Oregon Department of Energy
625 Marion St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-3737

They will also get the letters from the BLM and the ODOE and PUC. Bryan said they will most certainly have at least one meeting here. Larry Price of the Wheat League knows Lori Brogoitti, another of the council members, and has been in contact with her.

What is most important concerning the Siting Council is how can we educate our group and be informed on how the process works, so there will be more info coming. I think Bryan was surprised to hear from me so early, because there will be more public hearings on this process.

The Monday meeting went well, due to Professor Roger Findley's ability to keep meetings to about an hour. There were even more people at this meeting than the first one. Larry Meyer has done a great job covering the ongoing action for the Argus. A lot of property owners under the 3/4 mile transmission line zones were identified, and Jim Johnson of the Oregon Dept of Agriculture is interested in taking a tour along the route.

Bruce Corn reported on the meeting with the County Court, and Roger showed the circle maps and how IP has violated Page 48 of its own Treasure Valley Electrical Plan's Committee Consensus recommendations when it comes to Malheur County, explained about the condemnation process, committees to sign up for, writing checks, and make sure you don't let anyone on your land or sign right of ways!!! We must all hang together or we will all hang separately!

Someone suggested that we post signs warning anyone affiliated with Idaho Power or Sunstone that they must not assume they have the right to be on our property without permission. Roger Findley heard a rumor that Sunstone may be pulling back because of the economic downturn, but it has not been confirmed or denied.

Cliff Bentz explained about ethics rules in the Oregon legislature and how it makes it difficult for him to take action, since his law firm has represented Idaho Power in the past. He has done as much as he can under the ethics rules.

UPDATE Committee signups:

• HEAD BOSS CHAIR: Roger and Jean Findley, co-chairs
• COMMUNICATIONS: Patty Kennington and Pat Phillips, co-chairs, Pat Trenkel, Launa Frahm, Michaelann Seiders, Susan and Mike Kurth
• FINANCE: Grant Kitamura, chair, Katrina Trenkel, Staci Trenkel, Sandy Bowen, Pat Looney
• POLITICAL ACTION: Farrell Larson and Tom Phillips, co-chairs, Dan Andersen, Larry Price
• LEGAL: Cliff Looney, chair, Ken Teramura, Gary Pearson, Carrie Petterson, Debbie Hopkins, Clinton Kennington

The handouts that were available at the meeting are in our Document Links section, including suggested points for letters to political leaders. Greg Walden's office recommends that we flood our senators and representatives. I still don't have an address for Jeff Merkley, if someone has one I"ll post it. It hasn't appeared yet on the http://www.leg.state.or.us/ website, Gordon Smith is still there. Remember, you don't have to follow the Siting Standards for letters to your representatives.

You can keep writing letters to the BLM and ODOE using the Siting Standards. I'm sure they love getting them. If anyone isn't on our email list, get their email address to Pat Phillips at pat@tomphillipsagency.com

And while I'm at it, hello to you guys at Idaho Power! I hear you're a fan of the blog. :)

ORS 215.275

ORS 215.275 Utility facilities necessary for public service; criteria; rules; mitigating impact of facility.
(1) A utility facility established under ORS 215.213 (1)(d) or 215.283(1)(d) is necessary for public service if the facility must be sited in an exclusive farm use zone in order to provide the service.
(2) To demonstrate that a utility facility is necessary, an applicant for approval under ORS 215.213 (1)(d) or 215.283 (1)(d) must show that reasonable alternatives have been considered and that the facility must be sited in an exclusive farm use zone due to one or more of the following factors:
(a) Technical and engineering feasibility;
(b) The proposed facility is locationally dependent. A utility facility is locationally dependent if it must cross land in one or more areas zoned for exclusive farm use in order to achieve a reasonably direct route or to meet unique geographical needs that cannot be satisfied on other lands;
(c) Lack of available urban and nonresource lands;
(d) Availability of existing rights of way;
(e) Public health and safety; and
(f) Other requirements of state or federal agencies.
(3) Costs associated with any of the factors listed in subsection (2) of this section may be considered, but cost alone may not be the only consideration in determining that a utility facility is necessary for public service. Land costs shall not be included when considering alternative locations for substantially similar utility facilities. The Land Conservation and Development Commission shall determine by rule how land costs may be considered when evaluating the siting of utility facilities that are not substantially similar.
(5) The governing body of the county or its designee shall impose clear and objective conditions on an application for utility facility siting under ORS 215.213 (1)(d) or 215.283 (1)(d) to mitigate and minimize the impacts of the proposed facility, if any, on surrounding lands devoted to farm use in order to prevent a significant change in accepted farm practices or a significant increase in the cost of farm practices on the surrounding farmlands.

Monday night's meeting agenda

For our November 17th 7:00 p.m. meeting at the Boulevard Grange:

1) Bruce Corn reports on the County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday morning
2) Roger Findley reports on Idaho Power meeting Wednesday afternoon
3) Sign up for committee work, including the following:

• Finance. Are there any accountants who could answer some questions? Make out checks to Stop Idaho Power.
• Communications, including letter writing to political leaders, identifying landowners in the corridor (we will have maps on the wall to identify your property), and more email address signups
• Political contact committee to meet with elected and regulatory officials
• Legal committee to begin the process of vetting an attorney and identifying pertinent legal questions, case law and statutes concerning utilities and condemnation

Bring in any extra petitions, letters, address labels, etc.

We need everyone's help! Idaho Power is digitizing a GPS survey of alternate corridors, a good sign. The PUC website says on its B2H page: "Due to high volume the OPUC will not respond to comments individually." This means we're getting through! Keep it up! Thanks for all you've done, but we still have a long way to go.

I've categorized the links to make things easier to find. Several new documents are now posted under Document Links, including the ODOE Fact Sheet, Oregon Energy Siting Standards for comments to the BLM and ODOE, Points of Concern for Rerouting, and Bullet Points for Political Letters, including addresses. Copies will be available at the Monday Grange meeting.

We can't be reminded enough, don't respond to requests from utility companies to survey or even cross your land.

Monday mtg, property access, letter to the Gov

I'm drafting a letter to Governor Kulongoski, our state representatives, LCDC, Union and Umatilla Counties, etc. etc. They all need to know what's going on here. If anyone wants input, make a comment to this blog post or send it via email. I'll bring my letter to the meeting Monday night.

Don't forget: If anyone from Idaho Power contacts you about coming on your property, politely but firmly decline.

I've been looking at these "Circle Maps" from the Treasure Valley Electrical Plan, and the more I think about it, the less the idea of using any corridor across Malheur County farmland seems needful at all. Most of the line will be in Oregon already, so after it starts in Boardman, it should cross the Snake River into Idaho above Vale and Ontario, then stay there all the way to Hemingway instead of going 30 miles out of its way to recross the Oregon border to pick up farms in Nyssa and Adrian.

See you Monday night 7:00 p.m. at the Boulevard Grange.

Treasure Valley Electrical Plan

It's what you've all been waiting for, folks, a copy of the 72-page plan that was created in the total absence of any Oregon input. You can download this from the Idaho Power site at http://www.idahopower.com/newsroom/projnews/treasV/ then scroll down to the "Treasure Valley Electric Plan Update," or use the link at right.

Pay particular attention to the "Circle" maps that show how Idaho Power plans to install hubs, substations and transmission lines in a circle around the western Treasure Valley, especially Page 66, which shows counties and roads. We're evidently the first stage of the circle perimeter, although from inspection of the maps it wouldn't be all that difficult to move the perimeter a few miles to the east so they wouldn't have to cross eastern Oregon's rich agricultural valley.

We're all in Fast Track Land now.

Idaho Power Meeting Wednesday Afternoon

Jean Findley reports that a dozen or so Malheur County residents sat down with the Idaho Power people in Boise, who she says were cordial but insisted that the centerpiece to their transmission line was the proposed Sand Hollow substation. Roger Findley did the main presentation, Bruce Corn talked about the effect on farming, and Jean outlined alternate routes, including

• Grassy Mountain to Huntington Junction
• The Pacific Power and Light line to Buchanan, the designated BLM utility corridor
• Follow I-84

but Idaho Power claimed these alternates did not meet their needs.

The most astonishing piece of information was that when asked, IP admitted that NOT ONE OREGON RESIDENT was included in their corridor siting committee. This is insular thinking of the highest order, either that or unabashed cluelessness. They evidently have not dealt with Oregon land use laws before, or aggravated Oregonians, for that matter. This underscores the need to involve Oregon government officials and regulatory bodies as soon as possible. As one of my neighbors points out, they are finding Oregon's strict land use laws useful since there are fewer homes in their path, and "of course the public BLM land must have too many homes since they are using our private land."

IP was fairly surprised that our citizens' group is so well organized so early, and they further admitted that they have never before had to condemn property because everyone was willing to simply give it to them. No wonder the proposed transmission line corridor is a marvel of how to avoid crossing Idaho for the sake of Idahoans. They even said they couldn't run it through Idaho because it would CROSS FARM GROUND.

Jean made it clear that revising the siting inside Malheur County is NOT an option; we are not going to shove the transmission line a mile this way or a mile that way onto our neighbor's place.

Which reminds me, DO NOT LET ANYONE ON YOUR PROPERTY. Sunstone (Natural Gas Pipeline) has been doing environmental impact studies, you may see big helicopter X's painted on road intersections, and surveyors are out. Call the sheriff, if you must.

Jean said she believes IP was impressed with the seriousness of our group, especially when they were told we would be in the process of hiring an attorney. Since we have abided by Oregon land use laws for these last 30 years, IP must abide by them, too.

UPDATE Ken Teramura adds his observations of the meeting:

Their attention was drawn when:

• The petition with 1302 names on it.
• Exclusive Farm Use Laws in Oregon were violated
• Oregon Public Utilities must OK the project
• Farrell Larson said we will take it to the supreme court if necessary
• Mrs. Sayers comment that they will not be welcome on her property

We need at the Monday meeting:

• Get more names of people affected
• Contact Governor Kulongoski and PUC
• Check if Baker and other cities might have the same laws violated
• What to tell the person from Sunstone or Idaho Power on your property
• If the north route through Idaho is being contested
• Cost of legal counsel
• Keep people writing letters because Nov 14 might not be the final date

Monday Nov. 17th Grange Meeting!

If you think the last Grange meeting was full, make sure you're early for this one. We'll be meeting at the Boulevard Grange at 7:00 p.m. on November 17th to discuss the latest findings and what we intend to do next, including hiring a good attorney.

Meeting with County Court

Bruce Corn made a presentation to the county court Wednesday morning. The court agreed that this should not be through prime agricultural ground at the very least. The county court has written a letter to Idaho Power that will be sent out before the Nov. 14th deadline.

Over 1000 signatures were gathered to ask the PUC to site meetings in Eastern Oregon. Good work, everyone.

Idaho Power's Electrical Grid Projections

From the Virginia website: "..the PJM process may result in overbuilding transmission versus other alternatives, with the accompanying costs being borne by the ratepayers and the appearance of the Virginia landscape being adversely affected."

The question will be asked whether Idaho Power's 2006 Integrated Resource Plan Needs Projection is still relevant in a time of economic collapse.

As Jean Findley says, ". . . this is the issue with PUC, who will determine the 'need' for this thing. That's why we want the 'need' hearing to be held in Eastern Oregon, so we can all hear the arguments. We should have well over 1,000 signatures on the petition to PUC for us to be directly informed of all processes relating to this line."

New Picture and Map of Canyon County

Richard Teramura found a graphic artist who superimposed high power transmission lines on a picture of Malheur Butte, and the result is posted above. The picture is also being sent to the Argus. Malheur County Court is beginning proceedings to set aside Malheur Butte and other landmarks as protected scenic areas, but the process will take 45 days. Please lend your support to this effort!

Richard also noticed on the PDF map of the corridor, a very obvious desire on the part of Idaho Power to avoid crossing private property of the beneficiaries of this huge project at the expense of Malheur County residents. One can only ask WHY. Download the map using the link to the right.

An article (appears under Important Links) sent in by Tiffany C. about mini nuclear plants that provide power for 20,000 residents for $25 million each is sounding pretty good right now.

Meeting with Idaho Power

The meeting with our citizens' group and Idaho Power will take place Wednesday, November 12th at 3:00 p.m. The location is

Boise Plaza (formerly Boise Cascade)
1111 Jefferson St
Boise, ID 83728

Renae Corn talked to Eric Hackett and got his FAX number. She reports that he said that the cutoff date of Nov. 14th for public comment will "not negate comments if they come in after that." (Believe this at your own peril.)

ehackett@idahopower.com
Eric Hackett, Project Manager
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83707208-388-5712

UPDATE Evidently I posted the wrong FAX number, which was actually the number of a co-worker. I'll have to wait until I get the real one.

Warning: Don't Sign Right of Ways!

You do not have to let anyone on your property. If you are promised money for a right of way, remember they do not have to pay full market value. Your land may be taken out of production. Estimate that half of condemned property value will be lost. Once you sign a right of way, you may have no recourse!

Getting the Letters Out

Cliff Looney and his wife Pat have taken on the huge task of printing up hundreds of copies of form letters than can be sent to the BLM and ODE, and Idaho Power and PUC petitions. The letter packets will be ready Friday afternoon. If you can take letters out to your neighbors to be sent off before November 14th, contact Cliff in Vale at 473-3111 or home 889-6569.

These documents are downloadable in the Important Links column so you can print and sign them, including letters to Lucas Lucero at the BLM, Adam Bless at ODOE, the Idaho Power and PUC petitions and the Concerned Citizens Survey to see what you are willing to help with. Please send off the letters ASAP, and return petitions and surveys to Cliff Looney or Roger and Jean Findley.

UPDATE Pat Phillips would like to collect all petitions by Tuesday, November 11th.

BLM right of way

According to Renae Straab, Vale District office BLM, the BLM does not give easements, it gives "right of ways" She even considers "roads" as "right of ways". She is going to check with her land use person, Susie Menez, and get back to me about easement vs right of way, and whether or not a right of way can be used by more than one utility company.
According to Renae, she said there are no rights of way in the Vale Dist....I have been further researching this issue of existing right of way corridors on the web and ran onto an undated DRAFT to all state directors from assistant director, renewable resources & planning (wo200), and I quote some paragraphs:
the BLM and the Forest Service have had a longstanding partnership with the Western Utility Group (WUG)concerning the planning, identification, and designation of utility corridors in the western United States. Both agencies endorsed the WUG's 1992 Western Regional Corridor Study (WRCS) and committed to using it as a primary reference in our consideration and designation of utility corridors through the land use planning process. To make this effort even more manageable, the WUG recently updated its 1992 WRCS, and has provided the BLM and Forest Service with a more focused set of priority corridors in the western US. These are proposed corridors that the WUG has identified as having the highest potential of being developed with additional electric transmission, oil and gas transmission, and/or telecommunication facilities within the next 10 years.
The WUG has further categorized those priority corridors by identifying those corridors within which new projects will be proposed in the next 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and 5-10 years. A set of digitized maps of these proposed priority corridors can be accesed electronically by all BLM offices at : ftp://158.68.141.102/ (internal) or ftp://ftp.id.blm.gov/ (external). Each of these maps show corridors that the WUG has proposed as having the highest priority for the most immediate consideration and designation in BLM land use plans. The set includes 4 base maps, each with the priority corridors identified..... Now, folks, I (Pat P) have tried to access these files, but can't. I have called the Vale Dist Office, and Renae is going to talk to Susie about maps of existing corridors, but if any of you know of a faster way, please let us know. Thanks, pat p

Turn in your comments by November 14!

The comment window closes Friday, November 14th. If you haven't sent a letter or made a comment through the ODOE and BLM comment links on this blog page, please get them sent off as soon as possible, or you will have no recourse with government agencies.

ODOE, BLM and County Planning addresses are:

Adam Bless, Energy Facility Analyst
625 Marion St. N.E.
Salem, OR 97301

Lucas Lucero, Federal Project Manager
4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89130

John Beal, Malheur County Planning
251 B. St W.
Vale, OR 97918

While you are at it, send a letter to the editor at the Argus to express your opinion. Editor@argusobserver.com

Non-Profit Organization Name

The following are ideas for names for a non-profit organization. If you have an idea for a name or want to comment on one, please leave a comment at the end of this blog post or email Roger Findley at rogerfindley@q.com. We need to get started ASAP!!

1. Watts my Line
2. The 500 reVOLTers
3. Resistance to Idaho Power
4. Keep Idaho Power in Idaho
5. Rerouting Idaho Power

Possible Subcommittees

• Save the EFU committee. UPDATE Meeting with Idaho Power is planned for November 12th at 3:00 p.m.
• Elected officials committee
• OPUC and Siting Committee. We need to know who Eastern Oregon representatives are.
• Alternate Siting Committee. Attempting to get utility corridor maps.
• Get out the Letters Committee. Cliff and Pat Looney have been working on this.
• Financial Contributions Committee. Grant Kitamura has volunteered to head up this effort.

Pertinent Oregon Administrative Rules:

OAR 345-024
OAR 660-033-0130
OAR 660-033-0130 (16)
OAR 660-015-0000(3)ORS 215.213 (1)(d)

I also found an article from BPA that doesn't recommend that you or equipment you use go higher than 14 feet above ground when working directly under these power lines, but it doesn't have a web site that I can find. - Jean Findley

Additional Facts

Some additional facts:

Of the 13 pages of names of privately-owned properties affected, 75% are in Malheur County. The distance in Malheur County covered by this line is only 30 miles. 10% of the total distance (300 miles) affects 75% of the privately-held properties.

Idaho Power Transmission Line Project Meeting Notes

This blog is a response to Idaho Power's Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project Notice of Intent to place 500kV transmission towers through a 2-mile-wide corridor across prime farmland in Malheur County, Oregon.

The Notice of Intent was introduced to Malheur County at an informational meeting held Wednesday, October 22, at the Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario.

Approximately 250-300 citizens whose property will be affected by these transmission lines met Monday, November 3 at the Boulevard Grange.

Roger Findley, Natural Resources Instructor at Treasure Valley Community College, conducted the meeting, introducing the following agenda:

1. The goal of the citizen's group is to relocate the Idaho Power 5000 kV transmission line out of Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) land.

2. The mission is to discuss and develop options to achieve the goal, and to maintain communication with local citizens.

3. Overview: "Notice of Intent" is a 299 mile long, 2-mile-wide corridor that would contain a 250 right of way, including access roads, from Boardman, Oregon, to a substation in Sand Hollow, Idaho, crossing again into Oregon and then to a substation in Hemingway, Idaho.

These 12-story lattice transmission towers are 120 feet tall and 30 feet across at the base. Once a corridor is established, more power lines can be installed. Plans are in motion to also route a 42" gas line in an accompanying corridor. An example of a power line photo at Succor Creek was supplied by Jean Findley.

4. The NOI must provide alternative routes to EFU land, according to ORS 215.275. Criteria to determine public service were listed on a fact sheet:
a) tehnical and engineering feasibility
b) locationally dependent
c) lack of available urban and nonresource lands
d) availability of existing right of ways
e) public health and safety
f) other requirements of federal and state agencies

5) The siting committee (EFSC) process in public information meetings

6) Construction completed by 2012 "Fast Track"

7) Siting decision making council must include two from Eastern Oregon

8) Comments must be submitted by November 14 to the BLM and DOE. There is no recourse if comments are not submitted by this date.

Idaho Power has retained a private assessment firm, Tetra Tech, to do the Environmental Impact Statement.
89% of the 299 miles is now routed through private lands, including prime farmland.
Comments to the DOE and BLM are technically not supposed to address:

1. loss of property value (estimated to be 5% to 15% for those whose lands are affected) and


2. health issues such as the affect transmission lines may have on human beings.

9. Cited EFSC Standards (from Fact Sheet) to base DOE and BLM comments on:

• Safety and health; possibly, productivity of livestock


• General standards of review


• Organizational and expertise to build; this is the biggest project Idaho Power has ever undertaken


• Structural standards


• Soil protection


• (The most valuable point for comment purposes) Land use, espeically Exclusive Farm Use. A local commission OR Energy Siting Council MUST abide by Malheur County standards.


• Protected areas


• Retirement and financial (letter of credit in order to complete project)


• Threatened and endangered species; hawks, peregrine falcons, owls, etc.


• (another valuable point for comments) Scenic and aesthetic values, together with


• Historic, Cultural and Archeological Resources, including Malheur Butte, a landmark on the Oregon Trail; Mitchell Butte, and the overview at Trenkel Hill. John Beal, Malheur County Planning Commission, reports that Malheur County has no "scenic views" listed in its county plan.


• Recreation; Country View Golf Course


• Waste minimization


• Carbon Dioxide Emissions


• Need Standard for Nongenerating facilities

Other comments, although not listed on the siting standards, may include the following:

• Health issues


• Decrease in property value (lowered tax revenue to county and state)


• Aerial application of pesticides, sprinkler and center pivot irrigation systems


• TDML (Total Maximum Daily Load) for DEQ Clean Water Act standards for the Malheur River Allocation Watershed Council, which are in the process of eliminating surface flow irrigation


• Proximity of the Ontario Municipal Airport


• The use of "Utility Corridors" already identified by the BLM and established in Land Use Plans


• Send comments to BLM, ODE and Malheur County Planning in Vale

A subcommittee including Roger Findley, Bruce Corn, Ty Frasier, Mike Lovaas, Farrell Larsen, Evelyn Sayers, Ron Jones, John Beal and a member of the Malheur County Court will be meeting with Idaho Power to introduce an alternate plan and offer resistance to the current plan. If this is not successful, the entire group will meet again to plan strategies including retaining legal counsel and beginning subcommittee work with government agencies and alternative routes.