U.S. Forest Service keeping watch on oversized oil company loads

By KIM BRIGGEMAN of the Missoulian | Posted: Friday, January 14, 2011 9:00 pm

The U.S. Forest Service is watching the big rigs, too.
Northern Region Forester Leslie Weldon assured inquiring citizens this week that her office is keeping an eye on transport plans of oil companies that want to move massive loads along forest- and river-lined highways 12 and 200 in Idaho and Montana.
In an e-mailed letter, Weldon wrote that the Forest Service has expressed its concern to transportation departments in both states that the hauls will conflict with its ability to meet and sustain the purpose of the Wild and Scenic River designation of the Middle Clearwater River.
It could also clash with the federal agency's ability to "preserve, protect and manage the cultural and historical values associated with the corridor," Weldon said.
The matter becomes of special concern, she added, "should frequent transport of significantly oversized loads become the norm for these forest highways."
State transportation departments hold the highway easement and are thus the decision-makers of what goes up and down it. But Weldon said her staff has been tracking the planning process to identify and address natural resource, recreation, public access and tribal concerns.
After significant public comment last year, the Lolo National Forest is mapping out an environmental assessment for the burial of power lines through forestland in Montana. Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil has agreed to bear the cost, but the assessment will address impacts of the megaloads on water quality, aesthetics and historical resources.
In Idaho, a district ranger is working with the Idaho Transportation Department to make sure forest access isn't affected when ConocoPhillips starts barricading turnouts along the route. Conoco plans to truck four oversized loads of Billings-bound refinery equipment from Lewiston, Idaho, to the Montana line at Lolo Pass.
ITD director Brian Ness is expected to rule soon on whether the loads will be permitted, after a series of legal wrangling. Montana is ready to grant Conoco 32-J, or oversized load, permits if Idaho says go.
Imperial/Exxon waits in the wings, with 34 of a planned 207 modules sitting at the Port of Lewiston, ready to roll to the Kearl Oil Sands of Alberta.
***
There's public access to Clearwater National Forest land over 80 of the 174 miles on the route in Idaho. Conoco and its transport contractor, Emmert International, have identified 43 traffic-clearing turnouts on the Idaho side. Twenty-five are within the Clearwater forest, and 28 are in the Wild and Scenic Rivers corridor the Forest Service oversees.
ConocoPhillips' travel plan with ITD includes this clause: "To ensure safe public travel during the move, Emmert is authorized to barricade the approved turnouts for exclusive use for the wide loads up to 24 hours in advance for each move."
"We were a little bit surprised to read that," said Elayne Murphy, public affairs officer for the Clearwater and Nez Perce forests.
When they did, Murphy said, Lochsa District Ranger Craig Trulock contacted ITD.
"They are working on alternate language that would ensure that visitors to the national forest have access to the river, the recreation sites and the lands along that Highway 12 corridor," she said.
Trulock told Murphy the discussions center around ways to "allow people to pass through (barricaded) turnouts to access the river or dispersed camping."
While the discussions directly address only Conoco's four loads, turnout blockages are sure to be part of Imperial/Exxon's yearlong project as well.
"It'll be the same issue, but at least we'll have experience in dealing with it by then," Murphy said.
Weldon said the Forest Service is responsible for protecting and enhancing the values that made the Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa eligible for Wild and Scenic River status, "but not to limit other uses that do not substantially interfere with the public use and enjoyment of those values."
"Additionally," she added, "the Forest Service is responsible for assisting and cooperating with states and other entities to plan, protect and manage river resources."
The big rig route parallels or follows the National Scenic Byway, the Nez Perce National Historic Trial, the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail - all governed by laws with which the Forest Service is charged to comply, Weldon said. It must also ensure access for traditional cultural uses of the Nez Perce Tribe within ceded lands.
Reporter Kim Briggeman can be reached at 523-5266 or at kbriggeman@missoulian.com.