Barricades

In the details of the ConocoPhillips' permit that ITD had issued on Nov. 12 was this line: "Emmert is authorized to barricade the approved turnouts for exclusive use for the wide loads up to 24 hours in advance for each move." And also this line: "Travel is allowed 7 days a week..."
The 4 shipments will each travel 4 days on U.S.12, and the permits for these 4 may well set the precedence for Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil's 207 shipments, Harvest Energy's 63 shipments, and others.
During the recent hearing in Boise regarding the CP shipments, Emmert International (the Conoco shipper) project manager Mark Albrecht said Emmert has already hired a barricade company to block turnouts throughout the scenic byway/All American Road U.S.12.

He further said that Emmert had not consulted the Nez Perce Tribe regarding ancestral fishing and hunting rights along the route nor the Clearwater National Forest regarding Emmert's blocking public access to the CNF at locations such as the Fish Creek turnout and from access to 2 of the nations' Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Lochsa and Middle Fork of the Clearwater. Barricaded turnouts will be unavailable to all vehicles: cars, pickups, motorcycles, bicycles, campers, motorhomes, delivery trucks, buses, logging trucks and other commercial trucks.

Each shipment, according to Emmert staff, will be escorted by 4 on-duty state police officers traveling in state police cruisers.

We urge you to send a note to Clearwater National Forest Supervisor Rick Brazell and USFS Regional Supervisor Leslie Weldon imploring them to demand that ITD maintain public access to the Clearwater National Forest and Wild and Scenic Lochsa River and Middle Fork of the Clearwater River at all times.

Send your note to:

rbrazell@fs.fed.us
dlaustin@fs.fed.us
lweldon@fs.fed.us

Also send a note to the Idaho Dept. of Commerce's Tourism Division Administrator Karen Ballard imploring her to demand that ITD maintain public access to turnouts all along the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, 1 of the nation's 27 All-American Roads, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Nez Perce National Historic Trail and Idaho's segment of the Nez Perce National Historic Park -- that is, all along U.S. Highway 12. Remind her that north central Idaho business and community leaders have worked diligently throughout the last 2 decades to build north central Idaho's single growing industry -- the $150 million tourism industry that employs nearly 5000 people. Tell her that NOW is the time for her to stand up and defend that industry.

Send your note to:

karen.ballard@tourism.idaho.gov