Wisconsin Hearing Dates Set

[Gollonbait]

The dates for Public Hearings was posted today - As of yet, I have had no response from DNR on my letters or questions.

Looks like I'll have to go over someone's head on this. :x

May 24 and June 4 – The Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on the creation of s. NR 5.125(1)(d), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to sound testing methods for airboats. Section 30.62(2)(a), Stats., requires all boat sounds to meet the level of 86 db or less in order to be legal. The current tests that the department uses are designed for motor exhaust noise or they are not safe to perform on airboats or hovercraft type boats when measuring noise other than muffler or exhaust noise. In 2005, the department was notified of concerns that it was not enforcing the noise requirements on airboats that we apply to all other boats. Currently, airboats and hovercraft have to meet the 86 db sound level as it relates to their engine exhaust noise, but there is no test that would allow for the safe testing of the propeller and fan noise. The proposed rule change in the testing process would utilize Society of Automotive Engineers Test J1970 but would take in consideration the safety concerns when testing propeller and fan types of watercraft. The test contains step-by-step instructions for measuring noise from boats. For more information, contact William Engfer at (608) 266-0859. The hearings will be held on:

May 24
Prairie du Chien – 11 a.m. Sheriff’s Dept. Basement, Crawford County Courthouse, 220 N. Beaumont St.,

La Crosse –from 3 to 6 p.m. in Room 130, Todd Wehr Memorial Library, 900 Viterbo Drive.

June 1
Teleconference participation will be available in:
Ashland – 2 p.m. in Room 311, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, 2100 Beaser Ave.,

Oshkosh – 3 p.m. in Room 116B, Forest R. Polk Library, UW-Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd.

 

[Anonymous]

Gollon,
Print off a couple copies of the letter you had originally written if you don't already have them, in their entirety. Date, time, etc.

Put them in envelopes and mail them both to the original adressee and to yourself by registered mail. When your copy comes, don't open it. Just hold on to it. Only allow it to be opened if you are required to present you side of this issue before a judge .... in which case, allow him/her to open it at that time.

In the future, a very stong case can be presented that you had taken exception to the early proposals in this matter, that you had written an excepting point of view, and that your objections had not been answered. That the process had ignored you.

feather

"The best offense is a good defense" ...... Bobby Knight

 

[Gollonbait]

Here's an update on what's been going on in WI.......

I did get a respose from DNR shortly after my last post on this, but have been crazy busy so I finally got to sharing this.

I spoke with Mr. Engfer of the WI DNR, who is in charge of this rule change. According to him, he has been involved with airboats his whole life, growing up on the Mississippi River, and seemed quite knowledgeable on airboat mechanics and limitations. He claimed the DNR has tested thier boats, and about half of them would meet the proposed sound requirements. I'd have to say he's very sympathetic to our concerns, and does not want to "outlaw" airboats.

The proposed testing methods are not set in stone, but more of a starting point subject to comments from the public hearings to be held. Seems DNR is very open to suggestion on this, and just want to do something to address complaints from the public.

Apparently, the source of the complaints were from an airboater harrassing his neighbor, who just happened to be the type of person you don't want mad......... so here we are.

At this point, I'm not very worried. I feel that as long as we can submit some good data on reasonable sound, satisfactory testing methods, and a showing of responsibility at the hearings, there shouldn't be any undue restrictions.

However, I still want to keep this low key if possible. Don't need to be outnumbered at the public hearings by the "opposition."

 

[basketcase0302]

Gollonbait,

Sounds promising as long as your DNR contact is not a "wolf in sheeps clothing".

Were your proposed regs 85db at 50 feet?

Also hope the quiet airboat demo goes down as planned, (good ammo for you to take to the hearing)?

Basketcase

 

[Gollonbait]

Gollonbait,

Sounds promising as long as your DNR contact is not a "wolf in sheeps clothing".

Were your proposed regs 85db at 50 feet?

Also hope the quiet airboat demo goes down as planned, (good ammo for you to take to the hearing)?

Basketcase

I learned long ago to never trust the DNR, but I think this guy is sincere..... I hope!

I understand it to be 86db @ 300 ft...... but just seems hollow, like why even bother. It's very unclear.

I hope to have my brother at the QAD so we can learn something first hand, maybe contribute our experiences, and get some AMMO for the hearings, which, btw, are just a few weeks away. Hope the demonstation doesn't get postponed.