BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Transportation Department has agreed to hold a hearing on whether to allow an oil company to haul four massive loads of refinery equipment through northern Idaho’s scenic U.S. Highway 12 corridor.
Director Brian W. Ness accepted last week’s ruling by a hearing officer that concluded opponents of ConocoPhillips’ oversized loads on U.S. 12. should be allowed to intervene and challenge the state’s decision to grant travel permits.
Ness said Monday his agency will move forward with scheduling a hearing as quickly as possible, but didn’t give a date.
Boise attorney Merlyn Clark, the administrative hearing judge who conducted last week’s proceeding, will continue to preside over the dispute.
Exxon Mobil is following the case closely, because it plans more than 200 oversized oil-equipment shipments of its own.
