Diamond Cup Race Fans:
Very simply stated, the Diamond Cup Committee needs your help. As organizers of the 2014 Diamond Cup for unlimited hydroplanes, the committee is facing one of its biggest challenges, and it is one that cannot be faced alone.
In order to hold the 2014 race, the Diamond Cup LLC leaders must secure permits from state and local government agencies to use the waters of the lake near Silver Beach and the roads along its shores for the event. One of the most important permits is the one that must be granted by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).
On Tuesday, June 10, there will be a public hearing concerning the Diamond Cup permit at 6 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn Best Western Hotel at 506 West Appleway Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. We are asking everyone who supports the return of the Diamond Cup this year to attend as a show of support for the committee’s permit.
A large presence of race fans and supporters is needed. The race committee has become aware that there will be an organized attempt at that meeting to contest the IDL permit by the Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA).
It is the KEA’s position that the encroachment of the lake bottom by the Diamond Cup’s proposed buoy anchors poses a health risk because of the alleged presence of lead in the bottom silt of the Silver Beach bay. They also claim that the noise from the races has caused a disruption of the wildlife habitat in the mountains surrounding the course, and that the escape of racing fuel during racing action endangers the aquatic life in the bay.
It is the position of the Diamond Cup Committee that these claims are not at all based in scientific fact, but are merely a diversionary tactic being used to carry forward a dispute that the KEA had with another group of race organizers in the mid-1990s. The leadership of the Diamond Cup Committee has made numerous attempts to arrange a meeting with the KEA and their legal council to discuss their concerns, but the group has rejected such requests outright.
The Diamond Cup leadership certainly hopes that you see the importance of attending the meeting on June 10th. The outcome is critical for the race committee to continue to move forward with plans for the Labor Day event.
In addition to being at the meeting in person, race supporters are encouraged to make their feelings know by contacting the Idaho Department of Lands via email or snail mail. Please be specific as possible, framing your comments to counter the KEA claims of water and noise pollution. The ecological impact from the Diamond Cup can be no worse than the noise and debris dropped into the lake by the Coeur d’Alene’s 4th of July Fireworks display or from the disruption of the lake bottom by the swimming leg of the Ironman race.
The contact information for the IDL is as follows:
Letters should be mailed to Mr. Jim Brady, Idaho Department of Lands, Mica Supervisory Area, 3258 W Industrial Loop, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.
Email messages should be sent to [email protected]
Please plan to help. Be at the meeting. Write a letter. Send an email. Your active involvement will move the committee one step closer to making the 2014 Diamond Cup a reality.
Diamond Cup Race Fans:
Very simply stated, the Diamond Cup Committee needs your help. As organizers of the 2014 Diamond Cup for unlimited hydroplanes, the committee is facing one of its biggest challenges, and it is one that cannot be faced alone.
In order to hold the 2014 race, the Diamond Cup LLC leaders must secure permits from state and local government agencies to use the waters of the lake near Silver Beach and the roads along its shores for the event. One of the most important permits is the one that must be granted by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).
On Tuesday, June 10, there will be a public hearing concerning the Diamond Cup permit at 6 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn Best Western Hotel at 506 West Appleway Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. We are asking everyone who supports the return of the Diamond Cup this year to attend as a show of support for the committee’s permit.
A large presence of race fans and supporters is needed. The race committee has become aware that there will be an organized attempt at that meeting to contest the IDL permit by the Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA).
It is the KEA’s position that the encroachment of the lake bottom by the Diamond Cup’s proposed buoy anchors poses a health risk because of the alleged presence of lead in the bottom silt of the Silver Beach bay. They also claim that the noise from the races has caused a disruption of the wildlife habitat in the mountains surrounding the course, and that the escape of racing fuel during racing action endangers the aquatic life in the bay.
It is the position of the Diamond Cup Committee that these claims are not at all based in scientific fact, but are merely a diversionary tactic being used to carry forward a dispute that the KEA had with another group of race organizers in the mid-1990s. The leadership of the Diamond Cup Committee has made numerous attempts to arrange a meeting with the KEA and their legal council to discuss their concerns, but the group has rejected such requests outright.
The Diamond Cup leadership certainly hopes that you see the importance of attending the meeting on June 10th. The outcome is critical for the race committee to continue to move forward with plans for the Labor Day event.
In addition to being at the meeting in person, race supporters are encouraged to make their feelings know by contacting the Idaho Department of Lands via email or snail mail. Please be specific as possible, framing your comments to counter the KEA claims of water and noise pollution. The ecological impact from the Diamond Cup can be no worse than the noise and debris dropped into the lake by the Coeur d’Alene’s 4th of July Fireworks display or from the disruption of the lake bottom by the swimming leg of the Ironman race.
The contact information for the IDL is as follows:
Letters should be mailed to Mr. Jim Brady, Idaho Department of Lands, Mica Supervisory Area, 3258 W Industrial Loop, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.
Email messages should be sent to [email protected]
Please plan to help. Be at the meeting. Write a letter. Send an email. Your active involvement will move the committee one step closer to making the 2014 Diamond Cup a reality.