The Courier
NEWS
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
September 25, 2024
Vol 48 Num 39
Idaho Delegation Demands "No" Lava Ridge Open Primary Proposition
U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher today urged the Department of the Interior to adopt the "No-Action Alternative" on the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project following the termination of Section 106 consultation with both the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). "It is not often that either of these agencies back away from a project of this size, and it would be nearly impossible for the BLM to adequately complete this work without their expertise," wrote the members. "Unfortunately, it appears the BLM remains committed to carrying through with the project, regardless of the grave concerns that have long been expressed by Idahoans and the Japanese American community, and are further highlighted by the actions of the SHPO and ACHP. We urge you to issue a Record of Decision selecting the 'No-Action Alternative' for the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project and finally give deserved credence to this widespread opposition." The BLM considered six alternatives under the final environmental impact statement, including a No-Action Alternative. A Record of Decision selecting the No-Action Alternative would prevent Lava Ridge from being constructed. Earlier this month, the Idaho delegation urged the ACHP to terminate Section 106 consultation with the Bureau of Land Management on the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project. The delegation's letter followed the SHPO's decision in August to terminate consultation. The proposed Lava Ridge project would visually compromise the Minidoka National Historic Site, a relocation site where more than 13,000 Japanese-Americans were incarcerated during World War Two. The project has been opposed by many in the Japanese American Community including the Minidoka Pilgrimage, the Friends of Minidoka, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community and Exclusion Memorial Association in Washington State, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, the Japanese American Citizens League, the Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium, and Minidoka survivors and descendants from across the country.
Wood River Watershed Advisory Group Seeking Members
The Wood River WAG is a group of citizens from a diverse set of interests dedicated to successful restoration and protection of the health of the Big Wood River, Little Wood River, and Camas Creek watersheds. These watersheds cover Blaine, Camas, Gooding, and Lincoln counties, from which the WAG seeks to have representation. The group is currently seeking a representative from the flood control industry. The group meets quarterly, and members are asked to serve at least two-year terms. Responsibilities include working with DEQ on the following deliverables: continued on page 3... • Developing water quality improvement plans known as total...
With this year's general election just six weeks away, many of you will be sending in your requests for absentee ballots. You can do so by visiting your county election office or by going to: elections.sos.idaho.gov. Some counties will also have early voting from October 21st to November 1st. The big issue for most voters this year is the Presidential Election. However, here in Idaho, there is Proposition 1 which proposes two distinct changes to Idaho Election Law. First, the so called "Open Primary" proposition would eliminate the current primary election and replace it with a "Top 4 Primary." This new system would allow all candidates to run on a single ballot and the top four vote-earners for each office would advance to the general election. Candidates will be allowed to list any affiliation on the ballot, but may or may not represent the party they name. Second, the proposition also includes Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for the general election. In races with three or four candidates, voters will "rank" each candidate on the ballot in order of preference. This ranking will be used for "instant runoff voting" in which the candidate receiving the fewest votes in each round is eliminated. A vote for an eliminated candidate will transfer to the voter’s next-highest-ranked active candidate. During the effort to put Proposition 1 on the ballot, most people never heard about RCV. The main focus was on promoting the idea of being able to vote for candidates regardless of party affiliation. With over a quarter of Idaho voters registered as unaffiliated, the Top 4 Primary is an attractive idea. RCV, however, is very complicated process, both for voters and for election officials. Currently, only Alaska and Maine use RCV and Alaska voters are trying to get rid of it. According to the Idaho Secretary of State, Phil McGrane, the vast majority of Idaho counties are using tabulation systems, and a few smaller counties continue to hand count. Moving to RCV would involve a considerable expense to upgrade because these systems are not capable of tabulating RCV results. While "Top 4 Primary" and RCV are clearly two different ideas, voters will not be able to choose between the two issues. This is an "all or nothing" proposition. The Idaho Attorney General tried unsuccessfully to keep it off the ballot because Idaho law prohibits two topic propositions.