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Saturday, August 27, 2011

Stuck at Lolo

Do Environmental groups really know what they are talking about?
Just sayin'.....
I have linked to the article below
and in case it disappears I have copied and pasted it here:

Victory? Not so fast... 

Opposition to Imperial Oil's heavy haul voiced a collective victory cry July 19. Missoula District Court Judge Ray Dayton issued a preliminary injunction that day against the Kearl Module Transportation Project. All Against the Haul's blog quickly lit up with a triumphant "WE WON!" The following morning, newspaper headlines in Montana and Idaho hailed it a "mega ruling" against the megaloads.
The injunction validated several allegations that heavy haul opponents have leveled against the Montana Department of Transportation and Exxon Mobil subsidiary Imperial Oil for nearly a year and a half. Dayton ruled that MDT had violated the Montana Environmental Policy Act by approving an inadequate environmental assessment of the project. One of the assessment's major shortcomings, Dayton said, was in not fully investigating alternate routes for the big rigs.
Yet the call for celebration comes with a number of caveats, not the least of which is the possibility of seeing the loads rerouted along Interstate 90. Even as news of Dayton's injunction spread last week, Imperial Oil's first reduced-size load completed its journey through Idaho and Montana to Alberta. A giant test module continues to sit next to Highway 12 at Lolo Hot Springs, its future uncertain as MDT and Imperial Oil seek to appeal Dayton's decision. And Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rolheiser has stated repeatedly that the company hasn't given up on its original plan.
"It remains to be seen how large a nail this is in Exxon's coffin," says All Against the Haul coordinator Zack Porter. "We are celebrating last week's victory, and we want the enormous coalition of volunteers to be celebrating this with us, but we know this is potentially just a middle step."
In Idaho, courts have snatched victory from opposition forces time and again. Legal attempts to prevent the Idaho Transportation Department from green-lighting the megaloads hit a major snag this Monday when a judge denied a request to reconsider recommendations to approve the permits. Fighting Goliath co-founder Borg Hendrickson said heavy haul opponents were disappointed by the ruling, and intend to continue fighting in court.
Porter says the heavy haul opposition is unsure what its next move will be. MDT has not released a travel plan for loads along the interstate. But Dayton's injunction should hold back the megaloads at least until next summer, Porter says, making this "another several-billion-dollar delay for Exxon Mobil."
Last week's victory, it appears, was largely a win for morale. "David is slaying Goliath in the Northern Rockies," Porter says. "And the world is watching."

 It is stuck at Lolo Hot Springs resort!
SanFranZoulaians, 
I mean Missoula, Mt. residents and
environmentalist will not let it go through their town.
 This is a piece of equipment that cleans soil in Canada.
It is very large.
To get it there, HWY 12 was about the only route to go due to 
most roads have bridges on them.  
Those bridges do not have the clearance for these to fit under.
In order to make some of the corners on Hwy 12 they would have to 
increase the corners with concrete, widening the road.
Environmentalists say it would be harmful to the river that runs along side the road.
So they put a stop to it.
And here it has sat for the past three months.
The resort collects about $6,000.00 a month for this machine,
THAT COULD BE WORKING
in 
CANADA
IF it could get there.
 There are many more of these sitting at ports in the USA.
Pasco Washington has a few of them.
They come from China/Japan on barges.

 The guards office below is just a canopy of shade.
Someone has to stand guard 24/7 to make sure no one
jumps the fence, there has to be someone posted
at all times.
 These gentlemen had the day shift this day.
There are three shifts.
 They do not know how long this will go on.
 But If you want to know MORE INFORMATION
then feel free to call:

Imperial Oil Public Affairs
(403) 237-2710 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (403) 237-2710      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
 They would be most delightful in providing more information.

Some links for more information: