Dear Mr. Cockle, Oregonian Newspaper
Attached is a letter I sent to Idaho Power and the Oregon Energy Facilities Siting Council (EFSC) regarding Malheur County's concerns regarding the presently proposed routes for the B2H transmission line. (posted earlier on this blog)
The residents of Malheur County are not opposed to the construction of the transmission line. They are opposed to the proposed routes through some of the best and most productive agricultural land in the state. The majority of the proposed route in Malheur County is located on capability class I through III soils, much classed as prime or high value soils by the Oegon Department of Agriculture. Location of the transmission line on intensively farmed land will have a negative effect on the operation of farms. It will require changes and increases the cost in the manner in which the lands are irrigated, tilled and the application of chemicals. We are requesting routes on open range land and federal lands be considered which would have considerably less negative effect on farmland in Malheur County.
Malheur County is not benefitted by the location of the transmission line within its borders. It does not open the area to the placement of industries or produce any long term jobs for the area. One of the main reasons for the transmission line is to provide power for the Boise Valley which because of Idaho's lack of an organized land use program has become a poster child for urban sprawl. A committee composed entirely of Idaho residents recommended the line be placed in Oregon because it is not "developed" like Idaho. The reason Malheur County is not "developed" like the Boise Valley is because of Oregon's land use program and the restrictions on rural development coming from Statewide Land Use Planning Goal 3, Agricultural Lands. Idaho Power has chosen, pursuant to the applicable OAR, to have land use issues in Malheur County regarding placement of the transmission line decided by the EFSC instead of the Malheur County planning commission and county governing body.
Many of the residents of Malheur County feel the state's land use program and the restrictions on rural development are the reasons Malheur County is one of the poorest counties in Oregon. Agriculture is our life line in Malheur County and we have worked hard over the last 30 years to protect our best and most productive farmland from non farm development. Pursuant to state law a transmission line is an allowed outright permitted non farm use on farmland and Malheur County is not being allowed to make the land use decisions regarding it. Many feel the land use program we have used to protect our agricultural land from non farm uses is now being used against us in determining the placement of the B2H transmission line.
EFSC must consider Malheur County's land use regulaltions when deciding the land use issues. Policies contained in the county comprehensive plan create a hierarchy of site preference to soils with a lower capability classification for non farm uses in our agricultural zones. They also require normal farming and ranching practices be allowed to exist and continue without interference from non farm uses. Malheur County contends the requirements of state statute require Idaho Power and EFSC to consider alternative routes on open range land and federal lands to minimize the impact on the county's best and most productive land. The Hemingway-Sand Hollow direct route located entirely in Idaho is also a valid alternative to locating the route on agricultural lands in Oregon and should also be considered.
Come over to Malheur County and let us show you where Idaho Power is proposing to place the transmission line. Speak with some of the farmers who will be impacted by the proposed location of the line in their farm operations and let us show you where we feel it should be located. You will see the residents of Malheur County are not opposed to the construction of the transmission line, however, they are very much opposed to a very bad route that will have that will negatively effect the main industry in the county, farming.
Jon D. Beal, Malheur County Planning Director
