Roger and Jean Findley with the generous help of Evelyn Sayers have researched and written a well-reasoned and fair-minded 11-page letter to the local and regional BLM asking them to consider alternative routes around Malheur County farmland, giving not only ample background material and detailed discussions of alternatives, but legal, financial, and community- based reasons for doing so as well. The BLM extended its comment period to December 22nd to accommodate this input by our non-profit group. The stated aims of the letter (available HERE or under "Documents Links" in the column to the right) are to request that siting agencies:
- Move the proposed 500 kV transmission line out of exclusive farm use-zoned land in Malheur County in accordance with LCDC Goal 3 guidelines.
- Eliminate impacts of the 500 kV transmission line to humans, their residences, places of work, and animals as much as would be possible by locating the 500 kV transmission line away from areas of residences and farms.
- Eliminate impacts of the 500 kV transmission line to scenic values, recreational opportunities, wildlife values, and Oregon Trail values in Malheur County.
You will notice the use of the word "eliminate" rather than "mitigate," a word often thrown around by Idaho Power hoping that you will be satisfied when they "mitigate" what happens to you while moving 12-story towers a few feet into your neighbor's yard rather than doing the responsible thing and following Oregon state law in the first place, by siting transmission lines using designated utility corridors.
Our group is in the process of obtaining counsel from an electrical engineer on the feasibility of the alternate options, including relocating the proposed Sand Hollow substation.
