Montana issues permit for Imperial Oil test module

LEWISTON (AP) - The Montana Department of Transportation has issued a permit that would allow Imperial Oil to haul a huge load of refinery equipment from Idaho into Montana on its way to an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada.

Montana issued the permit to Imperial Oil on Friday, clearing the way for the 500,000-pound test load to leave the Port of Lewiston. Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rolheiser told the Lewiston Tribune that the load was expected to leave Lewiston at 10 p.m. Monday.

Imperial Oil initially proposed moving 207 loads from Lewiston on U.S. Highway 12 over Lolo Pass and into Montana. The company is now proposing to make some of the loads smaller so they can travel via interstate highways.