Idaho Delegation Encourages Public Comment On Gateway West Project EIS

Washington, D.C. - Members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation are calling for "strong public input" next week as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) opens the public comment period on the agency's final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Gateway West Power Project.  The project is the result of plans by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power to better ship power throughout the West via the Gateway West Transmission Line, which would run through Wyoming and all of southern Idaho.  Following an initial review of the EIS released last week, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, along with Congressmen Mike Simpson and Raul Labrador, released the following statement. 

"A broad group of Idahoans - people most affected by the Gateway West power lines - worked in good faith and underwent a strenuous process to develop a route that everyone could agree on only to have their efforts disregarded by the BLM," noted Crapo, Risch, Simpson and Labrador. "We encourage Idahoans to let the agency know how they feel about this new plan through the many public hearings scheduled throughout Idaho." 

A 60 day public comment period now begins with BLM expected to hold nine meetings throughout the state.  For more information about the meetings in Idaho and Wyoming, please visit BLM's website by clicking here.

Idaho meetings are planned as follows:

Boise, May 6,  4:00 to 7:00 PM, Boise Hotel and Conference Center

Kuna, May 7, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Old Gym

Murphy, May 8,  4:00 to 7:00 PM, Owyhee County Museum

Melba, May 9,  4:00 to 7:00 PM, Melba High School

Twin Falls, May 13, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Red Lion Canyon Springs Inn

Burley, May 14, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Best Western Inn & Conference Center

American Falls, May 14, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, American Falls Intermediate School

Pocatello, May 15, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Ramada Inn

Montpelier, May 16, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, National OR/CA Trail Center