April 21, 2016

PRESS RELEASE BY COALITION AGAINST INDYCAR BOSTON REGARDING

CONSERVATION COMMISSION RULING ON BOSTON GRAND PRIX

Last night the Boston Conservation Commission voted 4-1 to require the Promoter of
the Boston Grand Prix IndyCar race to make further filings with the Commission before
work on the Race Project may proceed.
The Promoter had sought to fast-track the Project by obtaining a determination that the
proposed work would not alter flood zone areas in the Seaport District of Boston. The
Commission found that there were too many unanswered questions regarding
environmental impacts of the Race project and ruled that the Promoter must follow the
usual procedure for obtaining approval to perform work in protected wetlands areas.
Work on the Race Project in the protected flood zones cannot begin until the Promoter
obtains further approval from the Commission, or successfully appeals its decision.
Larry Bishoff, co-chair of the Coalition Against IndyCar Boston, attended the hearing
and urged the Commission to review the environmental impacts of the Race Project. It
was heartening to see that an independent commission stood up for an open lawful
process and took seriously our concerns about threats to the environment presented by
this event, Bishoff stated.
David Lurie, an attorney who spoke at the hearing on behalf of residents concerned
about the environmental impacts of the Race, stated: "It was the right decision. There
are too many environmental issues with the race to give the Promoter any special
treatment. The Commission properly required the Promoter to follow the rules
everybody else has to follow."
The Race is proposed to be held over Labor Day Weekend, September 2-4, 2016.
Construction work associated with the Race is expected to take six months to complete.