News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2002

Blueribbon Coalition Joins Fight for Personal Watercraft Access to Lake PowellL

Contact:
Elinore Boeke 202-721-1621
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

WASHINGTON, DC— Washington, DC - The BlueRibbon Coalition has formed a PWC Action Task Force to ensure continued personal watercraft access to Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Arizona/Utah).

"BlueRibbon’s motto, ‘Preserving our natural resources FOR the public instead of FROM the public,’ is very appropriate to Lake Powell," said BlueRibbon Coalition president Jack Welch. "Recreational access to taxpayer-funded recreational parks and waterways is being threatened, and we believe that reasonably regulated personal watercraft alongside other forms of motorized boating makes sense for Lake Powell."

The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) welcomed BlueRibbon’s involvement. "This is a hard-working, effective group of volunteer activists who care about America’s natural resources," said Fernando Garcia, PWIA Chairman. "Lake Powell is a beautiful lake, and all motorboaters deserve to be able to enjoy it no matter what boat type they’ve chosen."

The National Park Service is in the process of completing an Environmental Impact Statement for Lake Powell, which is expected to be available to the public in July 2002. Due to the settlement of a lawsuit brought by an anti-boating group, if a rulemaking allowing personal watercraft use on the lake is not completed prior to September 15, 2002, the National Park Service must automatically ban personal watercraft in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area until a special regulation is finalized.

BlueRibbon campaigns strive to replace "user conflict" with "user cooperation," and to encourage all recreationists to share trails and facilities. "Everyone must learn acceptance and good manners," said Welch. "BlueRibbon members ride safely. We are courteous toward other users. We care about conservation. As volunteers, we spend many hours improving trails and recreation facilities. We hold ourselves to a high standard and urge others to do likewise."

More information about the BlueRibbon Coalition’s PWC Action Task Force is available at www.sharetrails.org. The Personal Watercraft Industry Association’s website is www.pwia.org.