Further filings needed for construction in Boston

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 [which means they won't be done by Labor Day weekend.]

Coalition Against IndyCar Boston