October 6, 2008
BLM Plans Public Meetings On Boardman To Hemingway Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding public information and scoping meetings in Idaho and Oregon during October to solicit comments on Idaho Power's proposed Boardman to Hemingway transmission line project.

Idaho Power is building the project to address the need for more transmission capacity. The project is a 300-mile, 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from northeast Oregon to southern Idaho.

All public meetings listed below will be from 4 to 7 p.m. with formal presentations at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Here are the dates and locations:

o  Oct. 21 - American Legion Community Center, 126 N. Bruneau Highway, Marsing, Idaho.
o  Oct. 22 - Four River Cultural Center, 676 SW 5th  Ave., Ontario, Ore.
o  Oct. 23 - Baker County Fairgrounds, 2610 Grove St., Baker City, Ore.
o  Oct. 28 - OSU Agricultural Service Center, 10507 N. McAlister Road, Island City, Ore.
o  Oct. 29 - Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate, Pendleton, Ore.
o  Oct. 30 - Port of Morrow Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive, Boardman, Ore.

The existing electrical transmission system from southwest Idaho to the Pacific Northwest has been at full capacity during recent high-demand periods. Transmission paths are key to utilities like Idaho Power for delivering electricity into and through its service area.

Corridors for the proposed Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project will be developed or modified based on studies of the area, topography, access, comments from federal agencies and land owners, and other factors.

The Oregon Department of Energy's Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) has regulatory and siting responsibility in Oregon for this project. The EFSC process is distinct from the federal NEPA process, but public scoping meetings will be held in conjunction with the BLM. This project will undergo a thorough review process and must meet the council's siting standards to receive a site certificate.

Idaho Power will provide project information throughout the BLM's environmental review and planning stages, including having representatives available at the scoping meetings. For more information, visit Idaho Power's section on the project Web site, www.boardmantohemingway.com/idaho_power.aspx, or contact Eric Hackett, project manager, at 388-5712 or ehackett@idahopower.com.