In a communication with the Bend office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Dave Angell, Manager of Delivery Planning for Idaho Power stated, "The BLM, NEPA and Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council processes have been suspended until the conclusion of the advisory process. Therefore, all cultural/ environmental surveys have been postponed and we are not presently seeking landowner agreements for survey access."
In the communication, Angell outlined IPCo's advisory process objective to have its Project Coordinating Team "align" acceptable routes by the end of the year.
One outcome of this is the BLM scoping process will have to be re-instituted for the new route. NEPA meetings, already postponed to accommodate the proliferating number of cooperating and coordinating groups and agencies, have been suspended, and ODOE and EFSC deliberations cannot proceed without a viable route.
Eastern Oregon citizens groups and the Malheur County Court have already impressed upon IPCo that they will only support routes which do not cross exclusive farm use land. Any newly proposed route coming from any Project Coordinating Team deliberation which crosses any EFU land will be vigorously opposed.
