BOISE, ID – The Senate on Monday night approved a bill to move the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office into a newly formed state agency that would oversee species conservation, mining and energy.
The historic preservation office “encourages the preservation, documentation, and use of cultural resources,” according to its website. House Bill 898 moves the office out from under the Idaho State Historical Society to the newly formed Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination.
The historic preservation office is required by federal law to coordinate permitting of certain projects.
Bill sponsor Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, a Meridian Republican, said the bill is meant to consolidate different state offices into an agency that’s focused on federal permitting to improve coordination.
“That office is seeking to make sure that we have a one-stop shop type of place for projects that may happen around the state that require federal permitting,” Den Hartog said.
The Legislature this year passed HB 737, which merged the Office of Species Conservation and Office of Energy Mineral Resources into the same new office.
Senators voted 23-12 on HB 898. Some opponents of the bill cited concerns from the Kootenai Tribe about the change.
Leadership from the tribe sent a letter on March 26 to state lawmakers in opposition to the bill, arguing the office is an important resource for the Kootenai Tribe.
“We work closely with SHPO on many projects to prevent damage or destruction of irreplaceable historic sites and cultural resources,” the letter said. “We have serious concerns about the potential impacts of moving the SHPO from an agency focused on resource protection to a multi-headed agency whose primary focus is resource extraction.”
Sen. Josh Kohl, a Twin Falls Republican, said he appreciates the office for its role in stopping the controversial Lava Ridge wind farm project. He thinks more stakeholders should’ve been brought in.
Hailey Democrat Sen. Ron Taylor noted a letter of support for the bill by power companies, including Idaho Power Company, Avista Corporation and Rocky Mountain Power.
“I look at some of the main supporters of this particular bill, and I wonder if they have Idaho’s history in Idaho’s best interest,” Taylor said.
The state budget-writing committee this year already moved the office’s 12 full-time employee authorization and approximately $1.7 million budget of mostly federal funding, and moved it into the newly formed office’s budget.
The bill has passed both legislative chambers and will head to Gov. Brad Little’s desk for consideration of signature, veto or to allow it to go into effect without signature.
Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.
