Kootenai Refuge Opens Comment on Underground Powerline Right-of-Way

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge has a public-comment window open on a utility project that sounds small on paper but matters on the ground.

Northern Lights, Inc. has asked to relocate an existing above-ground powerline inside the refuge by burying it beneath the county road right-of-way. The stated purpose is to reduce fire hazards and cut down on wildlife incidents tied to the line.

USFWS is reviewing the project through a Draft Compatibility Determination. That is the process refuges use to decide whether a use fits the purposes of the refuge and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. In plain English, the agency has to decide if this right-of-way belongs on refuge ground and under what conditions.

Comments are due by July 15, 2026. They can be sent by email to FW1KootenaiNWR@fws.gov with “Kootenai NWR Compatibility Determinations” in the subject line, or mailed to the refuge manager at Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, 287 Westside Road, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805.

This is the kind of issue people ignore until after the decision is made. Burying a line can reduce wildfire risk, remove overhead hazards, and potentially help wildlife. It can also mean ground disturbance, construction impacts, and another long-term use on public wildlife land. That is why the comment process exists.

Hunters, anglers, birders, neighbors, and anyone who cares about refuge management should read the document and speak like adults. Public land works best when the public shows up before the ink is dry, not just when somebody wants to complain about the outcome.