FOREST LAKE, Minn. JD Investments, the Pine Run Motorsports Park developer, today announced that it will pursue a new location for its motorsports facility, which it planned to build on 530 acres north of Henriette in Pine County. The decision was made after a year of detailed work and an extensive environmental assessment that began in January 2005, when JD Investments announced the project to the local community. Issues related to soil corrections, a wetland delineation and other factors led the developer to find a new site for the project rather than pursue an Environmental Impact Statement as required by the Pine County Board of Commissioners in October. A wetland delineation was required to establish or designate on-site wetlands, but a delineation couldn’t be produced despite ongoing discussions with several regulatory agencies. It was a much-needed starting point to establish on-site wetlands and produce a final track layout. The Pine Run site is currently a sod farm, which raised land use issues. Sod farms in the metro area have been converted to useable land uses, but regulatory agencies were hesitant to approve a motorsport facility use at the Henriette site. The site also would have required significant soil corrections. Soil borings revealed various levels of peat and mixed soils, which were extensive in some areas. The developer chose to work with those conditions if other factors could be met. The Pine Run plans called for a quarter-mile drag strip, a 3.6-mile road course and a 3/8-mile go-kart track, all of which would have generated a significant amount of activity. The new facility will be downscaled to include less activity and instead focus on showcasing a pristine road course facility and go-kart track. “The year-long exercise in Pine County produced overwhelming support from residents and the business community in both Pine and Kanabec counties,” said Scott Quick, JD Investments vice president and general manager. “We are grateful to everyone who supported our efforts, all throughout Minnesota, and ask for their continued support as we evaluate other sites. We’re especially grateful to all our friends and supporters in Pine County who welcomed our development and saw it as a good business opportunity for the area. Racing enthusiasts throughout Minnesota who have followed our project from the beginning should also know that JD Investments is committed to constructing a motorsports facility and our decision to move from this site has not deterred our passion to find a new home.” JD Investments will continue to chronicle its progress on its Web site: www.PineRunRacing.com.