TwightMannKerrRiff_dh.doc

June 9, 2000

Richard B. Twight
Idaho Department of Commerce
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0093

Greg Servheen
Idaho Department of Fish & Game
1540 Warner Avenue
Lewiston, ID 83501-5699

Hudson Mann
Division of Environmental Quality
Statehouse
Boise, ID 83720 Ron Kerr
Idaho Transportation Department
Statehouse
Boise ID 83720

Kathy Ruffalo
Office of the Governor
Statehouse
Boise, ID 83720

Re: Idaho’s Request for Oral Hearing

Dear Gentlemen and Kathy:

Enclosed for your review is a copy of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission’s request for oral hearing. This request was submitted to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Monday, June 5, 2000. Although the decision was to be made today, we have not heard whether the STB will conduct an oral hearing in Idaho.

I will be out of the office the week of June 12-16, 2000, but you could leave me a voice mail. If an emergency arises, my Administrative Assistant, Brenda, knows where I can be reached.

The PUC is conducting its state hearing on Monday, June 19, 2000. After I return to the office on Tuesday, June 20, we may want to get together to discuss filing responses to the Railroad’s Environmental and Historical Report. The STB’s environmental assessment (EA) is due on or about June 26, 2000. Once we receive the EA, we may want to submit comments specifically addressing it.

If the Governor and the Commerce Department’s Director desire to testify in the STB proceeding, we will need to file their verified statements (really an affidavit) no later than July 7, 2000. Consequently, we should be thinking about what material and information should go into their statements. I have provided Commerce and the Governor’s Office copies of previous verified statement submitted by the Governor and the Director.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 334-0312.

Sincerely yours,

Donald L. Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General

Enclosures

Cc: Ron Law

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