Archive for Monday, November 14, 2005
County to review coal truck change
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Routt County's Board of Commissioners today will review a permit change that would allow an energy company to haul coal in larger trucks.
Xcel Energy is asking county officials to amend a special use permit for hauling coal along County Road 27.
The company hauls 900,000 tons of coal a year -- half of the 1.8 million tons it uses -- from Twentymile Mine to help fuel the Hayden Power Station. Drivers transport the rest of the coal from the Seneca II West mine, which is set to close at the end of the year.
In a late October meeting, county planning commissioners said they approved of the permit amendment, which would allow Xcel to use 44-ton trucks, instead of the 25-ton trucks they are using now.
Commissioners, however, said they were concerned about the trucks compromising safety along County Road 27. Several residents also expressed concern. In response to those concerns, planning commissioners requested company officials to place identifying signs on each truck so people could report bad driving.
The company said it hoped to use the larger trucks only temporarily until it could haul the coal by rail.
Xcel officials also are requesting that they be able to allow different truck configurations, and they want to amend the $3 a ton fee the company pays the county for road improvements. Commissioners said they did not approve of those amendments.
-- To reach Dana Strongin, call 871-4229
or e-mail dstrongin@steamboatpilot.com
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