ConocoPhillips Fails To Block Evidence

As the hearing begins, ConocoPhillips and ITD moved to exclude an array of evidence, from anything about the larger plan from ExxonMobil for more than 200 megaloads to other information about Montana regulations, routes, accidents and more. “There has been no showing or evidence why those loads relate to these loads. … It’s simply not relevant,” said Erik Stidham, attorney for ConocoPhillips. Laird Lucas, attorney for the opponents of the loads, responded that some of that information may well be relevant, and he’d oppose any blanket exclusion. Hearing officer Merlyn Clark denied the motion/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here .

• Barricades & byways
  
• ITD has never denied overlegal permit based on public convenience
  
• Witness: ITD made PhillipsConoco cut huge drums in half
  
• Witness: ITD issues more than 64K overlegal permits per year
  
• Full house for megaloads hearing
  
• 13 plaintiffs oppose ConocoPhillips megaloads
• Opponents: ITD ‘brushed aside’ objections
• ITD: ‘A great deal of thought’ went into megaloads plan
• ConocoPhillips: ‘ITD did exactly what it should’

You can follow Betsy Russell’s blow-by-blow coverage of ConocoPhillips hearing here