182 



Since there is no mention of a revision of current lottery or permit applications, 

 this would lock in 1978 regulations for nonmotorized boaters while establishing 

 much more recent non-regulated use levels for motorized craft. 



Again, the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Act of 1975 requires a 

 "provision for the control of the use and number of motorized and nonmotorized 

 rivercraft..." (16USC 460gg-7). In 1988, in 1992, and again just last week, three 

 separate legal decisions were made which again determined that the Forest 

 Service must publish regulations, including regulations on how motorized craft 

 will be limited within the Hells Canyon NRA. "" In October 1994, the Forest 

 Service revisited this provision in its Record of Decision (ROD), which again 

 determined that regulating motorized travel was necessary. 



By establishing motorized use at current levels, and allowing "motorized 

 rivercraft... access to, and use of, the entire river within the recreation area at all 

 times during the year", H.R. 2568 overrides each of these decisions, including 

 the Forest Service Management Plan for the NRA. 



A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT 



If H.R. 2568 is successful, then additional legislation could be introduced to 

 allow jet-boats on other rivers. With 1 56 National Forests in 43 States, the 

 Forest Service manages many great Whitewater rivers including the Snake and 

 Salmon in Idaho, the Chattooga in Georgia, Cache la Poudre in Colorado, 

 Rogue in Oregon and many others. Providing deference to motorized travel on 

 the Snake sets a dangerous precedent for these and other outstanding 

 Whitewater rivers. 



This is not an idle fear. While jet-boats are allowed on the Snake, jet-skis or 

 personal water craft (PWC's - a smaller version of the commercial jet-boats on 

 the Snake) are not. However, many rivers do not enjoy this level of protection. 

 In 1995, jet-boats and PWC's became an issue on Washington's Wild and 

 Scenic Skagit (just recently, a permit application was filed with the Forest 

 Service to run (3) 50-person jet boat trips per day, every day from May to 

 September on the Skagit), on West Virginia's New and Gauley Rivers (another 

 National Recreation Area) and on California's Wild and Scenic Upper Kern 

 River. 



In 1995 PWC use was in excess of 700,000 and during 1994, PWC's were 

 involved in 2,500 collisions, almost half of all reported water crashes. Adding 

 Whitewater will only increase these statistics. 



