Port of Lewiston presentation before the Senate Transportation Committee

David Doeringsfeld, Manager of the Port of Lewiston, appeared before the House Transportation Committee with an update of the activities of the port.  He mentioned H557 which is in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. The bill would change Idaho Code to allow citizens in an area to vote to create a dry land port district.  Port districts can be an economic development tool.  In the state of Washington about 1/3 of 76 port districts are dry land ports.

The Port of Lewiston is intermodal.  It has waterfront operations and is a vital hub of container shipment and grain storage. Swift operates a fleet of about 400 trucks out of the port.

The port is currently in the permitting process with the Corps of Engineers which will allow it to expand the existing dock so it can load and unload barges more efficiently.  The permit process has taken about 18 months so far, but they are only 60 days away from it being finalized.

He discussed the oversized equipment issue. Because of the controversy in using Highway 12, Exxon-Imperial decided to cut the modules in half to reduce the height but that resulted in 5 times the volume of vehicles on the highway than the original 36 modules would have.

There is concern that some environmental groups are trying the limit not just something like the modules but put together a litmus test for what will be allowed on highways.

In the future the port will look for other projects like the oversized equipment; however, the Exxon Imperial project was an anomaly having 200 loads.  That is unlikely to happen again, but smaller loads with fewer modules could generate additional activity at the port.  He said that activity generates other activity which creates jobs.

In answer to a questions by Senator Bilyeu, Doeringsfeld pointed out that the modules in the loads were new containers and did not have any hazardous materials that could leak and pollute the river.

There is another concern with the loss of rail lines in North Central Idaho.   Highways 12 and 95 would then provide the only access to the area.  Lewiston is 100 miles one way and 260 miles the other way from freeway access.   He asked the committee members to remember that and support improvements for Highways 12 and 95.