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
