Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Speed limit’s not a done deal


Whoever in the Idaho Transportation Department stated that changing the environmental impact statement for the Highway 75 widening project might delay the expansion for several years, or even stop it, was sorely mistaken. I wrote and reviewed EIS documents for most of my professional career and such documents were never meant to cast anything in stone.

Under the law that requires these documents, it is clear that they are intended to be used for aiding in the decision-making process and for considering alternatives. There are provisions for amending EISs at any stage of the review process. To use the document as a roadblock to any further dialogue or deliberations about a project that they describe and discuss defeats the entire purpose of the document.

The article indicates that the widening project is not projected to start until 2013. If the proposed speed-limit reduction is ill-advised, there is ample time to reconsider it and amend the EIS. To say that there isn't is nonsense.

Bill Leet

Bellevue




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.