Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release:
March 7, 2013
Senators Burr and Hagan Introduce Senate Bill S.486 to Restore Access to the CHNSRA
“Restricting ORV use on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore has a negative impact on local communities and the local economy,” Senator Burr said. “We must ensure that our state’s residents have access to North Carolina’s scenic treasures, and I am confident we can come to a compromise that allows people to have access while at the same time addressing any potential environmental concerns.”
Senators Burr and Hagan have been vocal supporters of access to CHNSRA as the situation has evolved over the past several years. They introduced similar legislation in 2012. That bill went through the hearing process for the National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. That committee failed to act on any of the legislation before it in 2012 and the bill died in committee at the end of the 112th congress. The timing of their bill followed the introduction of the House version of the bill, H.R. 819 on February 26th by Congressman Walter B. Jones.
OBPA President John Couch said, "We thank Senator Burr and Senator Hagan for their continued support of the visitors and residents of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. They understand what the Outer Banks are all about -- access by the public to some of the nation's best beaches for family recreation. We are confident that our Senators will be able to lead this legislation through the Senate so that we may once again enjoy this Seashore for the treasure it is."
DOI Response
JONES SECURES HEARING ON PRESERVING ACCESS TO CAPE HATTERAS SEASHORE ACT
“This is about jobs, it’s about taxpayers’ right to access the recreational areas they own, and it’s about restoring balance and common sense to Park Service management.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) secured a congressional committee hearing on his bill to restore reasonable motorized and pedestrian access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Congressman Jones introduced the bill – H.R. 4094 – on February 28th. The hearing will take place on Capitol Hill at 9am, Friday, April 27th, before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. A live broadcast of the hearing should be available to the public through the House Natural Resources Committee website. Further information on next week’s hearing can be found here.
“I am very pleased that the National Parks Subcommittee has agreed to take up this bill,” said Congressman Jones. “This is an urgent situation. The access restrictions mandated by the National Park Service’s final rule are significantly impacting the Hatteras Island economy and are totally unnecessary to protect wildlife. This is about jobs, it’s about taxpayers’ right to access the recreational areas they own, and it’s about restoring balance and common sense to Park Service management.”
H.R. 4094 would overturn a final rule implemented by the National Park Service (NPS) in mid-February, as well as the 2008 U.S. District court approved Consent Decree. Both the Rule and the Consent Decree excessively restrict human access to the Recreational Area. The bill would reinstitute the Park Service’s 2007 Interim Management Strategy (IMS) to govern visitor access and species protection in the Recreational Area. The Interim Strategy was backed up by a 113-page Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which found that it would not jeopardize the species of concern, namely piping plover and sea turtles.
For additional information, please contact Catherine Fodor in Congressman Jones’ office at (202) 225-3415.
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Contact Your Congressman Today!
If you have followed the articles posted on this website over the past two months, you are aware that the National Park Service instituted a new Rule on February 15, 2012 that has severely reduced access to the beaches of Cape Hatteras. You are also aware that as the days have passed, more and more closures have been instituted, further restricting access. As of April 9, all access to Cape Point has been closed.
Many of you have contacted your Congressman already. The American Sportfishing Association through their Keep America Fishing program has made availabe a very easy tool to contact your Congressman. Just click on the following link and follow the instructions.
http://keepamericafishing.salsalabs.com/o/6394/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4068
jones asks park service to change hatteras beach signs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) conveyed his concern over new signs that have been erected by the National Park Service (NPS) in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. In a letter to Mike Murray, Superintendent of the National Park Service Outer Banks Group, Jones points out that the signs falsely convey a level of restricted pedestrian access that goes beyond park laws and regulations. He goes on to ask the Superintendent to replace the signs.
The full text of Congressman Jones’ letter to Superintendent Murray follows:
“Dear Superintendent Murray:
I am writing to convey my concern with new signs the National Park Service (NPS) has erected in several locations along the beach in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. I have attached a photograph of one of the signs for your review.
The signs falsely convey a level of restricted pedestrian access that goes beyond park laws and regulations. They read: “Shoreline Open to Restricted Pedestrian Access: Leave no footprints behind. Walk in water where footprints wash away.” However, the recently enacted final rule explicitly allows “pedestrian shoreline access along ocean and inlet shorelines below the high-tide line . . . in front of prenesting areas until breeding activity is observed.”
Clearly, these signs do not reflect the level of accessibility permitted in the rule. The rule’s allowance for visitors to walk below the high tide line does not mean that visitors can only walk in the ocean.
The final rule is already hurting Seashore visitors and nearby residents and businesses enough. They should not have to deal with additional restrictions not included in the rule. I urge you to promptly remove these signs and replace them with new signs that accurately convey the level of visitor accessibility spelled out in the final rule. If I can be of any assistance in securing this change, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Thank you for service and your consideration of this important matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
For additional information, please contact Catherine Fodor in Congressman Jones’ office at (202) 225-3415.
