Contentious Megaload Hearing Ends

ConocoPhillips painted a picture of years of quiet, painstaking work to plan for the safe transport of four giant mega-loads of oil equipment across a winding, scenic north-central Idaho highway, while highway residents said they never knew what was coming and accused Idaho’s Transportation Department of failing even to check on the company’s claims, let alone involve the public. A two-day contested-case hearing on Conoco’s proposed mega-loads wrapped up Friday in Boise, and state hearing officer Merlyn Clark said he’ll take the issue under advisement. … Asked when he’s likely to rule, Clark said, “I’d like to say at least before Christmas, but just as soon as I can get it done”/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here . (AP file photo of megaload at Port of Lewiston)

• Hearing officer has no idea how he’s ruling
• Billings plant manager: ‘We did our home work’
• Emmert has already hired barricade firm
• Emmert: If load went in river, it’d be cut up & removed in pieces
• Emmert coordinating w/area trucking firms on Highway 12
• Trucking firm measured route 25-30 times to plan for megaloads
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Question: How would you rule?