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Study to assess land use impacts

A priority is to assure land uses don't encroach on military bases or training.

BY CYNTHIA SEWELL - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com

Published: 09/29/08

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Idaho Joint Land Use Study

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Two public workshops are scheduled next week to gather comments on areas and issues that should be addressed in the study.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Ada County Courthouse, 200 W. Front St., Boise.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Rim Rock School, 39678 Idaho78, Bruneau.

Military facilities, urban areas, farm and range land, Indian reservation, waterways and reservoirs, nuclear reactor, radioactive waste disposal, recreation areas, rare wildlife and plant species - all of these items are found, or proposed, within Ada, Elmore and Owyhee counties.

The state wants to know if these resources and land uses are compatible, particularly in relation to Mountain Home Air Force Base and its training ranges and Idaho National Guard facilities.

The state received a $235,000 grant from the Department of Defense to conduct the Idaho Joint Land Use Study.

The goal of the three-county study "is to safeguard the military missions for military readiness while striking a healthy balance with surrounding communities to achieve compatible and sustainable economic development and growth, land use, environmental protection, public health and safety and other quality of life factors," said Gloria Mabbutt with Idaho Department of Commerce.

Committees comprised of city, county, tribal, state, Air Force, National Guard and other members will guide the study, which will take about 18 months to complete.

The first part of the study entails inventorying existing natural resources and military and civilian uses in the three-county area along with proposed uses, like the nuclear reactor near Hammett, the Elmore-Ada Water Project pipeline utilizing water from the Snake River and major residential and commercial developments.

Then analysts will determine how these different land uses are compatible or incompatible and make recommendations for reducing the impacts of incompatible activities.

Cynthia Sewell: 377-6428

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