BOISE, Idaho (KLIX) – The Idaho Transportation Department is extending the public comment period on rules governing oversized shipments on a section of U.S. Highway 12.

The comment period, originally set to end on Sept. 30, has been extended to Oct. 14.

ITD also has scheduled a public hearing about the issue from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and available to watch at district offices in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Shoshone, Pocatello and Rigby.

Semi-trailer truck
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Following legal action in 2013, a district court affirmed the U.S. Forest Service had a duty to regulate oversized loads traveling through the Clearwater National Forest, according to information from the department. The Forest Service issued written criteria to determine which loads would be subject to review.

Those who attend the public hearing will be able to comment on a proposed rule that would set the conditions that non-reducible, oversized loads using U.S. 12 would follow from milepost 75.2 to milepost 174.4. ITD is accepting comments that apply to shipments that:

  • Exceed 16 feet in width or 150 feet in length
  • Require longer than 12 hours to travel through the Wild and Scenic River Corridor and National Forest (the section of U.S. 12 from milepost 75.2 to 174.4)
  • Require physical modification of the roadway or adjacent vegetation to facilitate passage beyond normal highway maintenance.
  • Non-reducible loads carry cargo that cannot be reduced in size to make a shipment lighter. Examples of non-reducible shipments are heavy equipment or wind turbine blades.

Comments should be emailed to Ramon Hobdey-Sanchez at ramon.hobdey-sanchez@itd.idaho.gov, mailed to Idaho Transportation Department, Attn: Ramon Hobdey-Sanchez, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID  83707, or submitted by phone at (208) 334-8810.

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