For all of you who follow news on tar sands ... here's not-so-good news from Idaho -- via the NYT's Green blog:

The Idaho Transportation Department says it will grant two permits allowing the oil company ConocoPhilips to move super-size loads of refining equipment along a winding ribbon of two-lane highway in the northern part of the state. Transport is to commence on Monday of next week, weather permitting.

An array of environmental groups and local residents have fought the shipments for months, arguing, among other things, that the corridor in question adjoins some of the most pristine wilderness remaining in the lower 48 states.

The road, United States Highway 12, is also part of the historic Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and cuts through Nez Perce tribal territory. [...]

Meanwhile, Imperial Oil, the Canadian division of oil giant Exxon Mobil, waits in the wings with plans to move more than 200 similarly sized modules along much of the same route to its oil sands operations in Canada.

Emphasis, mine. Suffice to say that people who reside in the Gem State and Montana are not happy. The Missoulian has more coverage here.

-- Brian Foley