20100917PAC to Staff 256.pdf

~~OUNTAIN o i: r" i:i~i-.Vi_.,
201D SEP 17 AM 9: L,4
201 South Main, Suite 2300
Salt lake City, Utah 84111
September 16, 2010
Scott Woodbur
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington
Boise, ID 83702-5918
Neil Price
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washigton
Boise, ID 83702-5918
RE: ID PAC-E-I0-07
IPUC Data Request (252-270)
Please fid enclosed Rocky Mountain Power's response to IPUC Data Request 256. Provided on
the enclosed Confdential CD ar Confdential Attachments IPUC 256 -(1-3). The Confdential
Atthments are Confdential and are provided to paries that have signed a protective order in
this docket.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at [phone].
Sincerely,
~. -r~t: ~~/~
J. Ted Weston
Manager, Regulation
Enclosure:
cc: Jean JewelllPUC (C)/3 copies
Eric OlsenlPA (C)
Ben OttolICL (C)
Radall BudgelMonsanto (C)
James R. Smithonsanto (C)
Richad AndersonIonsanto (C)
George C. Carer, III/Monsanto (C)
Denns PeseauIonsato (C)
Gareth R. KajanderlMonsanto (C)
Maurce BrubakerlMonsanto (C)
Brian CollnslMonsanto (C)
Michael Gormanonsanto (C)
Kath IversonIonsanto (C)
Mark WidmerlMonsanto (C)
t
.
PAC-E-I0-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 16, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 256
IPUC Production Data Request 256
Please describe in detail any hiring constraints affecting the abilty of the Bridger
Coal Company (BCC) to attract qualified employees. If these constraints are
material to mine operation, what is the estimated financial impact of these
constraints? Please include any spreadsheets or other workpapers used in the
analysis of financial impact due to hiring constraints at BCC. What steps has
BCC taken to address this issue?
Response to IPUC Production Data Request 256
Bridger Coal Company, along with inanyother companies in the south west
region of Wyoming (paricularly the Rock Springs area), has experienced
difficulty in attracting qualified applicants. Bridger Coal identified the housing
market and availabilty of acceptable housing options in the Rock Springs area as
a primar obstacle in the hiring process. In response, Bridger Coal initiated, in
July 2007, a recruiting and housing assistance program to address this concern.
(Please refer to Confidential Attachment IPUC 256 -1). This information is
confidential and is provided subject to the terms and conditions of the protective
agreement in this proceeding.
Please refer to Confidential Attachm,ent .J,UC 256 -2 for Bridger Coal Company's
current recruiting strategy which inchide's a signing-bonus program, relocation
allowance, temporary housing subsidy, ånd housing assistance programs. This
information is confidential and is provided subject to the terms and conditions of
the protective agreement in this proceeding.
A wage comparison study has been completed as found in Confidential
Attachment IPUC 256 -3. This comparison shows relevant wage data for mining
operations in the intermountain region. This information is used in salar
evaluation and union negotiationsanaprov,,nes a comparison to regional
competitors, the trona industry.this1infuni:iation is confidential and is provided
subject to the terms and conditiöns'ôfthe protective agreement in this proceeding.
Bridger Coal Company has not estimated the financial impact of the hiring
constraints. To support mining operations, Bridger Coal Company has increased
utilzation of outside contractors, Price and Tri-State Mine Services.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durning
Cindy Crane
,