Megaloads Moving Through Montana

POWELL, Idaho (AP) — A huge truckload of oil refinery equipment has finally entered Montana after a four-day, protest-filled journey along U.S. Highway 12 in northern Idaho.

The 644,000-pound shipment crossed into Montana early Friday.  The shipment is destined for Missoula and ultimately the tar sands project in Alberta, Canada.

The megaload left the Lewiston area Monday night and was met by hundreds of protesters each of the next four nights. Opponents of the shipments and Oregon-based hauler Omega Morgan sought to slow or halt the truck by protesting on the roadway and filing legal action in federal court.

On Thursday, attorneys for the Nez Perce Tribe and Idaho Rivers United filed a complaint in federal court asking a judge to issue and order halting the shipment.