GROUP ASKS STATE NOT TO SPONSOR DANGEROUS OCEAN POWERBOAT RACING

GROUP ASKS STATE NOT TO SPONSOR DANGEROUS OCEAN POWERBOAT RACING

1,300 Arkansans Sign Petition to Protect Quality of Life on Greers Ferry Lake

A grassroots environmental protection group today continued its push to stop dangerous ocean powerboat racing on Greers Ferry Lake.

The Committee for the Preservation of Greers Ferry Lake has gathered more than 1,300 signatures in opposition to the races, arguing that the races will allow dozens of massive and noisy ocean powerboats to race at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour on Greers Ferry, along with accompanying helicopters and thousands of spectators. The petitions have been presented to the Army Corps of Engineers and to the Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission.

“Ocean powerboat racing is dangerous, noisy, and disruptive to the quiet enjoyment of Greers Ferry Lake,” said Chyenne Morning Star, spokesperson for The Committee for the Preservation of Greers Ferry Lake. “What we’re talking about is allowing ocean powerboats to race on Greers Ferry at nearly 200 miles per hour. I don’t live in this area to listen to the deafening noise of ocean powerboats, and neither do the more than 1,300 people who’ve signed our petition against allowing the races.”

The Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission is considering a proposal to provide $25,000 in taxpayer-funded sponsorship for the race, and will vote on the proposal at its Thursday, July 20^th meeting, 8:30 a.m., at Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville. The Committee for the Preservation of Greers Ferry Lake appeared at the May Commission meeting in opposition to the proposal, and the Commission deferred the matter to July 20^th. Committee members plan to be present at the July 20^th meeting as well, to renew their opposition.

The Arkansas Sierra Club also stands in opposition to the proposal, along with several fishing clubs in the state. Also, the 2500 member-strong Save Greers Ferry Lake, Inc. voted earlier this month to stand in opposition.

“Since the May meeting, more than eight hundred additional Arkansans—most from the Greers Ferry area—have said NO to ocean powerboat racing,” said Morning Star. “As more Arkansans learn what ocean powerboat racing is, more are speaking out against this activity. We are hopeful that the Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission will listen to the hundreds of people who live on Greers Ferry. Please don’t spend our tax dollars to support an activity we don’t want on our lake.”

WHAT: Meeting of Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission, to consider support of Ocean Powerboat Racing on GreersFerry Lake

WHEN: Thursday, July 20^th, 2006, 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: LakeDardanelle State Park (Visitor Center) in Russellville