You Can’t Mitigate History: PRESERVE the
GREAT FALLS PORTAGE NHL

PREVIOUS UPDATES

January 24, 2007 Press Release Update
Lewis & Clark Portage National Historic Landmark Update

December 15, 2006 Newsletter Update
Enough to Make an Intrepid Explorer Cry

The Great Falls Portage National Historic Landmark (NHL) remains under imminent threat from a proposed coal-fired generator plant, to be built on and immediately adjacent to the landmark.

Last summer the preservation community – from the National Park Service on down – was stunned to learn that the planned location for a new Highwood Station Power Plant east of Great Falls along Salem Road is now in Sections 24-25, directly on the Great Falls Portage NHL.  Scoping for the project began in October 2004, BUT the Salem Site was long identified as lying to the south in Section 36, a mile away from the Portage corridor.  And, the site selection study explicitly stated “If the site were located further to the north the project would be located on property of significant historical activity – the beginning of the trail for the portage route taken by Lewis & Clark. This site was dropped from further consideration.”

Despite this public assurance, the proponents switched the site to the north, then alerted agencies and the public to severe adverse impacts now anticipated from building the plant directly on the Great Falls Portage NHL.  No one disputes that, with its 400-foot smokestack, wind turbines, rail lines, transmission lines, access roads, lights, steam, noise and mile-long coal trains, the plant will obliterate Lewis & Clark’s 1805 lower portage route as we know it.

Yet, the City of Great Falls and the Southern Montana Electrical Cooperative together are proceeding on – seeking a massive federal loan from USDA Rural Utilities Services to finance the plant, and pursuing a heavy industry zoning change, despite 1,500 letters of protest to the county.  Ironically, during zoning hearings, Highwood supporters invoked Thomas Jefferson, in his instructions to the explorers, as their champion. Historian Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs responded:

“One need only look at the writings of President Jefferson to see that our third President believed in preserving and protecting historic places. In 1774, Jefferson purchased from King George III a 90-foot span of stone in Rockbridge, Virginia known as the Natural Bridge in order that it be permanently maintained as a National Historic Landmark, which it is to this day. Supporters of the plant would have the citizens of Great Falls forget about history and the value of historic places. What a shame they cannot seem to get the facts straight. Thomas Jefferson believed in “purposes of commerce” to be sure but he also believed in democracy. Obviously his actions in preserving a historic National landmark indicate he would not support despoiling one. 
 
A final EIS is underway.  Although public comment on the Draft EIS has closed, MPA is seeking further opportunity for public input.  For more information visit .

To register your concern contact:

Mark Plank
Federal Preservation Officer
Rural Development, Utilities Programs
202-720-1649/ Fax: 202-720-0820
mark.plank@wdc.usda.gov

Kathy Johnson
MT Department of Environmental Quality
katjohnson@mt.gov