Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
That was final witness
That was the last witness - now the hearing officer and attorneys are discussing the schedule for post-hearing briefing.
Eye On Boise archive for Dec. 2010
THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 2010
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
ConocoPhillips Billings plant manager: 'We did our homework on this'
ConocoPhillips has called Steven Steach, manager of its Billings refinery, to testify. "For the last 60 years we've been supplying transportation fuels to the Rocky Mountain Region," Steach said. "We're about 10 percent of the refining capacity in this region." Steach noted that the plant…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Emmert already has hired barricade firm
Emmert International's project manager, Mark Albrecht, said his firm has hired a barricade company to block the turnouts along U.S. Highway 12 before the ConocoPhillips megaloads come through. Though ITD's proposed permits call for barricades for 24 hours in advance of the loads, Albrecht said,…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Emmert: 'We gauge each section of road'
Under cross-examination, Mark Albrecht, project manager for Emmert International, is defending the details of how the specialized trailers for the ConocoPhillips megaloads will work. "We gauge each section of road," Albrecht said.
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Emmert: If load went in river, it'd be cut up, pulled out in pieces
Mark Albrecht, project manager for Emmert International, said the specialized trailer his firm would use makes it almost impossible that the giant drum could tumble off into the river below. "The trailer was specifically chosen for this route and this load," he said. "That trailer…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Emmert says it's coordinating with area trucking firms on Highway 12
Emmert International project manager Mark Albrecht said his firm has contacted several commercial trucking firms in the Highway 12 area to coordinate plans and set up protocols for notifying each other when trucks are moving. Asked why the ConocoPhillips megaloads are planned to move at…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Trucking firm measured route '25 to 30 times' to plan for megaloads
In the three years that Emmert International worked on its transport plan for the four ConocoPhillips megaloads, project manager Mark Albrecht said, "I'd have to say that route's been measured at least 25 to 30 times. ... We really wanted to make sure that we…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Emmert manager: 'This load, this size ... this was the only option'
Mark Albrecht, project manager for Emmert International, said his firm considered other routes to move the huge coker drums from their manufacturer in Japan to ConocoPhillips' Billings, Mont. plant. "We knew that we were looking at something coming from overseas, so we looked at several…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Next Conoco witness: Project manager from Emmert International
ConocoPhillips has now called its next witness, Mark Albrecht, who has worked for Emmert International for more than 30 years and started there at age 15. He started as a laborer and now is a project manager and director of operations. He said he's handled…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Emmert recovered Mammoet's lost megaload in Indiana, fell off truck
In his cross-examination of Terry Emmert, attorney Laird Lucas asked Emmert, "Emmert is in the business of hauling heavy loads?" Emmert responded, "Yes." "And it's good business for you if you can open up a new corridor for hauling heavy loads?" Lucas asked. "Yes," Emmert…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Conoco's first witness: Terry Emmert 1
ConocoPhillips has called its first witness, Terry Emmert, whose father started Emmert International 45 years ago. That's the firm Conoco has hired to move its four megaloads from the Port of Lewiston to its Billings, Mont. refinery. Emmert is testifying about other giant loads his…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
ITD's testimony on 'balancing needs' raises hearing officer's concern
Hearing officer Merlyn Clark said he has "some concerns about Mr. Frew's testimony about balancing, as opposed to primary concern for safety and convenience." ITD motor vehicles administrator Alan Frew testified yesterday that ITD balances all highway users' needs, including balancing the needs of those…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Conoco's motion is denied 1
Conoco attorney Erik Stidham, arguing for his motion for a directed verdict, said, "What is clear is that the intervenors are trying desperately, desperately to call this a precedent and it's not." He said all the concerns they've brought up were considered by ITD. But…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Opponents: 'Where is the concern for the public?' 2
Laird Lucas, attorney for the megaloads opponents, arguing against Conoco's motion for a directed verdict, asked, "Where is the concern for the public? It is not in the record. ... To this day there has not been a public meeting on the Conoco loads." He…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Conoco: Opponents failed to make case 2
The hearing is back under way, and there were no questions on cross-examination for Linwood Laughy. That concluded the intervenors' case in full. Next up is ConocoPhillips; attorney Erik Stidham rose and read a long statement moving for a "directed verdict," saying that the intervenors…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Hearing breaks for noon hour
It's just before noon in Boise; the megaloads hearing is taking a break for lunch and will resume at 1 p.m. Mountain time.
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Laughy says loads would have to travel 49 mph in one stretch to meet delay limit 2
Linwood Laughy said based on his calculations, he doesn't believe the megaloads can meet ITD's standard of not delaying traffic more than 15 minutes. "I've calculated it out," he said. "One stretch they'd have to go 49 mph."Attorneys for ConocoPhillips are now cross-examining Laughy, asking…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Laughy: Barricading Highway 12 turnouts would have 'huge effect'
Asked how it would affect him if turnouts along Highway 12 were barricaded 24 hours in advance of megaloads passing through, resident Linwood Laughy said, "I drive in that area - I will of course not be able to pull over if I had any…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
One megaload arrives in Montana from the other direction - from Oklahoma 4
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — While officials debated the safety of hauling huge loads of equipment from Idaho into Montana, an oversized load of refinery equipment made a two-month trip from Oklahoma to south-central Montana. The Billings Gazette…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Laughy: 'It would shut that down' 1
Attorneys for the megaloads opponents have put back up on the big screen the photo of a stretch of U.S. Highway 12 where a sheer rock wall rises on one side of the road, and a wooden guardrail 31 feet from the rock wall marks…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Laughy: Promised limits on traffic delays didn't seem feasible
Linwood Laughy testified that after discovering the 200-plus megaloads were in the works, he filed public records requests and his wife set up a website. Laughy said he started sending out "ITD Alerts" when he found new information, hoping to alert ITD to concerns. "I…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
First hint about megaloads for local resident: Power went out 1
Highway 12 resident Linwood Laughy said the first he heard about the proposed megaloads was in April of 2010, when he was working in his home office and the power went out. He headed down the road, and encountered an Avista power truck and crew…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Laughy: 'A very unique and special area' 1
Linwood Laughy said the Highway 12 corridor is "a very unique and special area." It's designated as the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway for the entire 174 miles from Lewiston to Lolo Pass. Most of the Lochsa River and all of the Selway River are in…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Laughy is next witness
Linwood Laughy, the lead plaintiff in the litigation over the megaloads, is the next witness. He's lived in the region since 1948, when his family moved to the Lewiston Orchards area when he was 5. He's an honors graduate of Harvard, with a master's degree…
Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
When megaloads pull off at turnouts, still would block part of highway 3
Attorneys for the opponents of ConocoPhillips megaloads have shown slides of various turnouts along U.S. Highway 12 where the loads would pull off the road to let traffic pass, and some appear to be much narrower than the loads, meaning the giant loads still would…
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