If first four loads don’t go up and over smoothly, battle will likely last for a generation-

The megaloads for the Billings, MT oil refinery now have a go ahead from Idaho, and will probably get one quickly from Montana. Highway 12 itself has been slippery to very slippery except in its lower portion.  Parts of it have also been briefly closed to reduced to one lane due to rockslides.

Idaho official signs off on Highway 12 megaload permits. By Kim Briggeman of the Missoulian missoulian.com

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About The Author

Ralph Maughan

Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.

4 Responses to First four oil megaloads get "go ahead" by Idaho Dept. of Transportation

  1. Salle says:

    Sure looks like the Idaho, in particular, governing entities will sell their souls and everyone else’s future health and well being for the sake of a few dollars in campaign funds. A pittance compared to the real cost of their ignorance and greed.

  2. mhwygirl says:

    thanks for covering this issue. how are those loads going to make it over the pass with the amount of snow on the highway right now- making the road narrower than usual? not all the pullouts have even been plowed. these rigs are too big for hwy 12 and should be shipped on the traditional route.

    • Save bears says:

      They have not even made the new pullouts yet, that are required for this move, they may have permits from Idaho, but Montana has not issued permits yet and if they do, there are conditions required by the state of Montana to complete the move….right now it is about as clear as MUD!

  3. NotafanofWW2 says:

    So much for the designated Wild and Scenic Lochsa River that runs alongside highway 12. This is an outright travesty!

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‎"At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, “thus far and no further.” If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, “If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour."

~ Edward Abbey

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