Thursday, February 12, under the capable leadership of Dennis Hall and Bruce Corn, representatives from Stop Idaho Power (SIP) and seven representatives from Idaho Power Company (IPC) toured exclusive farm use-zoned (EFU) land in Malheur County which potentially could be affected by the 500 kV transmission line from Boardman to Hemingway.
In spite of a foggy, drizzly day, numerous discussions took place at key stops along the way from Select Onion processing plant on Oregon Slope to alfalfa seed production near Adrian. SIP representatives for the full day included Rod and Larry Price, Bruce Penn, Eric White, and Bruce Corn. Roger and Jean Findley and Oliver Larson joined the tour for a portion of the time.
Several county personnel, including planners Jon Beal and Bill Lawrence, as well as Commissioner Jim Nakano, participated. Malheur County Judge Dan Joyce, Owyhee Irrigation District head Jay Chamberlin, and Reid Saito from Oregon Onion Growers joined us for lunch, and each made a presentation to the entire group, along with county planner Jon Beal. Dennis Hall, friend and neighbor and retired Idaho Power employee, helped coordinate the day of cordial dialogue.
At the end of the day, it was apparent that SIP’s goal of keeping the line off EFU zoned-land in Malheur County will not be compromised, and IPC is determined to retain the Sand Hollow Substation as an integral part of this project. Because Sand Hollow Substation is proposed somewhere in Idaho between the Sand Hollow exit on Interstate-84 and the Snake River, running the line through EFU land in Malheur County would be the shortest.easiest way to Boardman for IPC, and EFU land in Malheur County is where they intend to run this line. In other words, there is a complete and total impasse regarding location of the line.
Nevertheless, SIP was pleased to have the opportunity to both discuss with and show IPC personnel many of our concerns regarding running this line on EFU land in Malheur County, and we know that they are interested in using these lands because they are in part the shorter route and are sparsely populated. This is due to our land use zoning laws which we as residents have been living with for the past 30 years.
We are not sure how dialogue can proceed at this point, but we remain committed to helping Idaho Power find alternate routes to using EFU land in Malheur County. We are pleased they were willing to come this way to see and discuss the issues this line presents to our small but precious and valuable agricultural land in this impoverished county.
--Jean Findley
