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Optimum panel to seek public input: Committee investigating uses for FMC site in Pocatello, Idaho

The Optimum Initiative committee will solicit the help of marketing and communications experts to get the public involved in deciding appropriate possible uses for the idled FMC site west of the city.

By Emily Jones – Journal Writer

http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2004/01/07/news/local/news05.txt

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne formed the committee in December 2002 and gave it the task of finding a new use for the site. Members were originally given six months, but were granted an extension by the governor to create a master plan.

The FMC site, most recently the Astaris phosphorus plant, closed in December 2001 after more than 50 years in operation.

At their monthly meeting, members said public involvement is important.

"The problem is still getting the community to trust us and getting their information to us," committee member Jim Lance said.

The first phase of the committee’s master plan will be to evaluate uses for the site using values the community defines as important.

Several options, including an ethanol plant, food irradiation plant, sugar beet storage and an air freight facility have been proposed, Lance said.

"It seems to me that time is of the essence … We’ve got to get these ideas out there," Lance said.

Marketing experts, possibly from Idaho State University, will be invited to the next meeting to help the committee find effective ways to get information from the public.

"What we need is a legitimate, statistical survey (of the community)," committee member Audrey Cole said.

Geosciences professor and Western Institute for Sustainable Rural Environment Director David McGinnis said ISU professors have expressed an interest in helping with the committee on an individual basis.

In the meantime, officials are also working on writing an application for a grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to help market the site.

Public input could also aid the marketing process, committee member and EPA official Sue Skinner said.

"I think we will get to a point where businesses want to know what the tolerance of the community is," Skinner said.

The Optimum Initiative Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at the Bannock Development Corporation Conference Room, 1651 Alvin Ricken Road.

Emily Jones covers regional issues, agriculture and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory for the Journal. She can be reached at 239-3175 or by e-mail at

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