Following the review of comments received during the public scoping period (fall 2008/winter 2009), Idaho Power initiated the Community Advisory Process (CAP) to recommend proposed and alternate routes for the B2H Project.

Five project advisory teams (PATs) were convened representing geographic areas from Boardman, Oregon to Melba, Idaho in spring 2009. The teams included community members; local agencies, business owners; and other interested parties. Outcomes from PAT meetings were presented at public meetings for review and comment. To learn more, visit Idaho Power’s Community Advisory Process page.

Based on input, feedback and recommendations from the PATs and the public, Idaho Power selected a proposed route in April 2010.

BLM and ODOE were invited by Idaho Power to attend their CAP meetings to provide information about state and federal review processes and to answer questions from CAP participants about the applicable state and federal statutes and rules.

Following CAP, Idaho Power submitted its proposed and alternative routes to the BLM, USFS and ODOE for their separate review processes.

Federal agencies are required to include the proposed action, the no action, and a range of reasonable alternatives for analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). BLM and USFS will review Idaho Power’s proposed and alternative routes developed through the CAP, together with input received from the public and resource agencies during scoping, to determine the scope of analysis in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.

The CAP team reviewed the BLM’s 2009 Public Scoping Report and the ODOE’s 2009 Project Order to understand the issues and concerns that were identified by the public through comments submitted during the public scoping and comment period in fall 2008/winter 2009.