Marty Trillhaase, Editorial Page Editor, Lewiston

The Lewiston Tribune 2/4/12

Last year, more than 70 megaloads traveled across north central Idaho highways — often with an unofficial subsidy courtesy of the Idaho taxpayer and motorist.

Among them were 10 shipments along U.S. Highway 12, including four from ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil’s experimental module. At one time, ExxonMobil spoke about running 200 of these rolling roadblocks up U.S. 12 en route to the Alberta tar sands project.

At the same time, ExxonMobil reconfigured megaloads parked at the Port of Lewiston for interstate highway travel and moved 64 of them up U.S. Highway 95.

Each of them paid an over-legal permit fee to the Idaho Transportation Department. ConocoPhillips was charged an average of $2,210 per trip. ExxonMobil’s transports paid, on average, $175. The companies also reimbursed what Idaho spent clearing the highways of snow and for extra law enforcement.

But from the time the megaload plans appeared on the scene, it was obvious the state wasn’t charging enough. Continue reading →