Jet boat races in jeopardy

ST. MARIES - Organizers of the "Race the Joe" jet boat competition said they may not be able to hold the race this month after one Calder resident was able to get the U.S. Coast Guard to deny a permit for the event.

The United States Coast Guard contacted organizers on Thursday, saying they would not be able to issue a permit for the event until they perform a full-blown environmental assessment on impacts the race may have on the river.

That would take 135 days to complete. The event is scheduled to be held on May 17-19.

"Without this permit our race is not in compliance with our insurance and sanctioning from the American Power Boat Association, and we can't hold a race without insurance," said Kyla Sawyer, spokesperson for Epic Motorsports which is co-hosting the event with the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce. "After receiving approval from all local authorities for the race, we are stunned by the Coast Guard's decision."

Sawyer said it was huge blow to the business community after investing nearly $50,000 to put on the event, and now it looks like the event might have to be canceled.

She said they haven't thrown in the towel just yet, but things don't look real promising at the moment.

"We have a lot of people looking for ways to get past this," she said. "Hopefully we can find a way to pull it off."

Benewah County Commissioner Jack Buell said he is calling legislators to make them aware of the situation and determine what the community's options are.

"We'll have to see if there is any flexibility with this," he said. "We are going to do our best to get this worked out, that's about all we can do right now."

The USCG got involved with the event after Jim Boyd of Calder complained about the impacts to eagle habitat among other things. Boyd did not respond to interview requests on Friday.

In a series of email communications obtained by the Press, Boyd contacted the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation insisting the agency forward his concerns on to the USCG. He also contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and asked them to get involved.

"I'm opposed to the jet boats races being considered by our Shoshone County Commissioners and Sheriff. I do not live along the race course but I have lived on the banks of the St. Joe River for 26 years. I was opposed to the races last year also." he wrote in an email dated March 27.

In the email, Boyd informed David Dahms, who oversees marine event permits for IDPR, of a requirement the agency has to inform the USCG of any "potential environmental impact" the event may have.

He listed several potential impacts that other agencies pointed out, but didn't appear overly concerned with, during a comment period on the Shoshone County permit that was eventually approved 3-0 by the county commission on March 28.

"In my opinion any one of the above has 'possible environmental impact' which requires notification of the US Coast Guard," he wrote. "If this goes to the Coast Guard, a 135 day notice is required per 33 CFR 100.15c. I have also been told they may require a NEPA assessment."

Dahms complied with Boyd's request and sent USCG Lt. Commander Meridena Kauffman Boyd's email complaint. Jennifer Okerlund, a spokesperson with IDPR, said the agency is required to do so under a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the two agencies in 2006.

"With this email I am asking for USCG District 13 to review the attached materials in accordance with 33 CFR 100.15 to assess these impacts," Dahms wrote. "I have not come across the issue of environmental impacts affecting the possible issuance of a Marine Event Permit before and am looking for your assistance and guidance."

According to Chief Robert Lanier, public affairs officer for USCG, the agency has an obligation to do an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Protection Act if someone has a valid environmental concern, such as those listed in Boyd's email.

"Unfortunately, we cannot issue a permit for this event," he said. "They didn't contact us soon enough."

Lanier said the agency requires 135-day advanced notice - enough time to do an environmental assessment - on new marine events, and a 60-day notice is needed for a renewed event permit.

While there is no appeal process for their decision, Lanier said the organizers do have the option of providing their own environmental assessment.

"However, I don't believe they could do a fair assessment in the time frame they have," he added.

Under the terms of the agreement between the state parks department and USCG, the state retains jurisdiction of permitting these events until an environmental complaint is made.

Had no complaint been filed, the event would have been full permitted by now. Also, there is no way to obtain a USCG permit unless a complaint is filed, so there was nothing organizers could have done to be proactive.

"As the organizers we are in a very ugly catch-22 situation here," Sawyer said. "What really floors us is that we were told that we did everything right, and still we are denied a permit."

Gary Gertze, vice president of the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce, said the news came as a blow to much of the community.

"A lot of us were counting on this event to bring people to town," he said. "Last year it was a big success. I was talking to the porta-potty guy and he said last year's event pulled him out for the season."

Gertze said the chamber was hoping to make the race an annual event to help businesses during the spring when the St. Maries economy is fairly slow.

"We hold these events to get people down here to fill up the hotel rooms, eat in our restaurants and have a good time," he said "We are kind of off the beaten path, and we need events like this to bring in some outside money.

"It's a shame that a handful of people can stop it just like that."