Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power are working with individual landowners along the project route to obtain permission to conduct studies on their land. These studies will help the companies better understand conditions along the various corridors, help the Bureau of Land Management assess the alternatives and provide information for the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) analysis.

Letters requesting right of entry are being mailed to landowners along the study corridor. Please note that permission to enter private property for surveying and information gathering does not constitute a grant of future easement or that a transmission line will be constructed across the property, it is simply an allowance to conduct the studies. The exact line route has not yet been determined.

In December 2008, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power hosted landowner meetings to help landowners better understand Gateway West. At the meetings, attendees received information about the project, reviewed maps, asked questions, and provided comments to be included in the Draft EIS analysis.

The companies received meaningful feedback from attendees, which is being used to further refine the project route. In addition, the companies continue to meet with communities to learn more about their concerns and answer questions about the project.

Landowners have the right to restrict access to the easements. However, the easement allows Idaho Power and/or Rocky Mountain Power employees to access the line as needed to operate and maintain the transmission line. The companies have easement restrictions to ensure that a safe distance from the transmission line is always observed.

Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power will work with landowners as much as possible in locating the facilities on the property to ensure the continued use of their land. The companies will also work with farmers to reduce impacts to agriculture.

The timing of construction will be coordinated with landowners as much as possible to minimize short-term impacts to agriculture. Over the long term, most agricultural activities can proceed with the transmission line in place.