45 



lived with the regulation system in Hells Canyon that restricts the 

 benign use and lets the malignant use run at will. 



We have listened to the Jetboat lobby tell us that their fuming, 

 speeding, thundering Jetboats really aren't a problem for those of 

 us who row a raft, insinuating that either we are just lying about 

 those impacts or about the jetboats and that those impacts are just 

 a figment of our imagination. These claims are obviously false to 

 anyone with common sense, and the impacts are very real. 



I would like to digress at this time to let you know that I have 

 seen some near-fatal incidents on the river. One example that I 

 would like to bring up is an example where I was guiding a trip. 

 We had two kids, one 11 and one 14 years old, swim across the 

 river in their life jackets, hike up a trail to Suicide Point across the 

 river from Salt Creek where we were camped. They came back 

 down the trail with one of the guides. As they were swimming 

 across the river, three Jetboats which were apparently racing came 

 around the corner. You couldn't hear them until they were right 

 there. They came within approximately ten feet at approximately 

 60 miles an hour of hitting those kids, so I get a little bit rankled 

 when I hear people say that there isn't a conflict, that there isn't 

 danger. 



We have heard testimony that there hasn't been any deaths, and 

 there haven't been any major collisions. Do we have to wait for a 

 death or a major collision before we do something about the situa- 

 tion? 



What I really wish is that the Jetboat lobby would just tell the 

 truth and have the dignity to stand up and say that they really 

 don't care about other people's experiences, and that they want 

 their vision of river management to rule everyone, because that is 

 what it comes down to. The Jetboat constituency, the Jetboat lobby 

 is insistent that they want regulation of river use, but the only reg- 

 ulation that they will accept are the regulations that they have 

 come up with. 



I think that this inequitable situation is going to be perpetuated 

 by H.R. 2568. In my estimation, it is the epitome of a top-down 

 planning situation, where we have a seven-year process of develop- 

 ing a river plan from the grass roots and the Forest Service, de- 

 spite the fact that I am really upset with them for not having regu- 

 lated Jetboats for 20 years when the law requires it yet they have 

 regulated floaters, they have made an attempt with this plan to 

 come up with some even-handed management. 



Everybody makes some sacrifices in this plan, and this legisla- 

 tion is doing one very simple thing. It is legislating away sacrifices 

 made by one user constituency and essentially giving them their vi- 

 sion of how the river should be managed at everyone else's ex- 

 pense. 



I look forward to your questions. There is too much to say and 

 not enough time. I very much appreciate the ability to speak. 



[The prepared statement of Richard Bailey may be found at the 

 end of hearing.] 



[The submitted Exhibits and Attachments may be found in the 

 Committee files.] 



Mrs. Chenowteth. Thank you, Mr. Bailey. I would like to call on 

 Mr. Hughes. 



