7/26/2012 Status Conference - CHAPA Law Suit
As you may be aware, Judge Sullivan held a conference with the plaintiff’s, defendants', and intervenors' lawyers in the CHAPA lawsuit today.
At today's telephonic status conference, after being notified of tomorrow's scheduled hearing before Judge Boyle, D.C. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan indicated his inclination to sua sponte (i.e., on his own will, without request by any party) transfer the D.C. Court litigation challenging the final CHNSRA ORV management plan and environmental impact statement "to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina as related to Case No. 2:07-CV-45-BO [Judge Terrance Boyle] in that court or otherwise." Judge Sullivan has directed the parties, by no later than August 6, 2012, to file any objections to such transfer. CHAPA intends to do so.
Thank you for your continued support in our efforts to resolve the Beach Access issues we continue to face at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. We will let you know when we have more information.
Senate National Parks Subcommittee Hearing Held on June 27, 2012
The National Parks Subcommittee heard testimony on S.2372, Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act, on Wednesday, June 27. This bipartisan bill was introduced on April 26 by Senator Richard Burr and co-sponsored by Senator Kay Hagan. It would abolish the final ORV plan and rule and return the management of the seashore to the 2007 Interim Protected Species Management Plan until the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Director of the National Park Service devise a new ORV plan and final rule that meets the requirements set forth in the legislation.
The full hearing can be viewed at the Senate National Parks Subcommittee Webcast. The testimony related to S.2372 begins around the 42 minute mark. Warren Judge, chairman of the Dare County Board of County Commissioners testified before the committee and expressed the importance of this legislation the the residents and visitors to the seashore. Chairman Judge's Testimony written testimony can also be viewed
Iren Nolan, editor of the Island Free Press has provided insight into the hearing through her article following the hearing and her weekly blog.
Island Free Press News Release
Island Free Press Blog
Senator Joe Manchin, WV strongly supported the bill during the hearing and is an important ally in our continued effort to pass this legislation. The next step in the process will be fo he Senate committe to mve to mark up and vote on whether to send the bill to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Now we must work on the Senate
Thanks to all of you for your efforts to contact your congressman on this important issue over the past week.
Our new and larger hurdle is to achieve the same results on the floor of the U.S. Senate. The White House, through OMB has already voiced their displeasure with our success and Audubon has announced that we will never succeed in the Senate. This tells you the importance of what we are doing and challenges us all to see to it that S. 2372 meets with the same success.
S. 2372 will be heard on Wednesday, June 27. Once again we solicit your help and call on you to get on the telephone, email, fax, make personal contact with your Senator before this date. You elected him/her, now pressure them be responsive to your needs. You can find these addresses, phone/fax numbers by going to www.senate.gov.
JONES HATTERAS BEACH
ACCESS BILL PASSES THE HOUSE
Jun 19, 2012 Issues: Energy Environment and Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House passed Congressman Walter B. Jones’ bill – The Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act. The bill was rolled into a package of 13 other bills and voted on as H.R. 2578 - the Conservation and Economic Growth Act. Congressman Jones’ bill would restore taxpayers’ right to reasonable pedestrian and motorized access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. H.R. 2578 passed the House by a vote of 232-188, and now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
“This legislation is about jobs, it’s about the taxpayers’ right to access the recreational areas they own, and it’s about restoring balance and common sense to National Park Service management,” said Jones.
Jones’ bill would overturn a final rule implemented by the Park Service earlier this year that excessively restricts taxpayers’ access to Cape Hatteras Seashore, and is unnecessary to protect the wildlife. The language would reinstitute the Park Service’s 2007 Interim Management Strategy to govern visitor access and species protection at Cape Hatteras. It would reopen 26 miles of beach that are now permanently closed to motorized beach access, and give seashore managers flexibility to implement more balanced measures that maximize both recreational access and species protection. By doing so, the bill would reverse the significant job loss and economic decline that Hatteras Island has experienced since the Park Service cut off access to the most popular areas of the seashore.
There is broad, bipartisan public support for this effort. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) have introduced the same bill in the Senate. The bill is also supported by national sportsmen’s groups including the American Sportfishing Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
Senate Sub Committee hearing for S. 2372 Scheduled for 6/27/2012.
Sub-Committee Press Release:
June 27, 2012
NATIONAL PARKS SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: Misc. National Parks Bills
The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills:
S. 1897, a bill to amend Public Law 101-377 to revise the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station;
S. 2158, a bill to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway National Heritage Area;
S. 2229, a bill to authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park;
S. 2267, a bill to reauthorize the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area;
S. 2272, a bill to designate a mountain in the State of Alaska as Mount Denali;
S. 2273, a bill to designate the Talkeetna Ranger Station in Talkeetna, Alaska, as the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station;
S. 2286, a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
S. 2316, a bill to designate the Salt Pond Visitor Center at the Cape Cod National Seashore as the "Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Salt Pond Visitor Center"
S. 2324, a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment ofthe Neches River in the State of Texas for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic River System;
S. 2372, a bill to authorize pedestrian and motorized vehicular access in Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area; and
S. 3300, a bill to establish the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington
The hearing will be webcast live on the Committee's website, and an archived video will be available shortly after the hearing is complete. Witnesses’ testimony will be available on the website at the start of the hearing.
New - Urgent news!!
Vote Scheduled for 6/19/2012
Do This Today!
6/15/2012
On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 The US House of Representatives will vote on H. R. 2578 “The Conservation and Economic Growth Act”. Title X of this bill is H. R. 4094 – “Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act”.
CALL and EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW before this critical vote occurs and request an affirmative vote on this important legislation. Forward this message to your friends and post it on your facebook.
NEWS RELEASE
Congressman Walter B. Jones
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Catherine Fodor
June 15, 2012 202-225-3415
Jones’ hatteras beach access bill going to the house floor next week
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, June 19th, the language of Congressman Walter B. Jones’ (NC-3) bill, H.R. 4094 – the Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act – will be brought to the House floor for a vote. Congressman Jones’ bill to restore reasonable pedestrian and motorized access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area will be introduced as part of H.R. 2578 – the Conservation and Economic Growth Act – a package of fourteen Natural Resources Committee bills that will create new American jobs, grow the economy, protect the environment and promote development of domestic energy. Last week H.R. 4094 passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on a roll call vote of 24-18.
“This bill is about jobs and the taxpayers’ right to access the recreational areas they own. It’s about restoring balance and common sense to Park Service management,” said Jones.
Congressman Jones’ bill 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.
Vote on HR 4094 as Title X of H.R. 2578 is immenent!
CHAPA
Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance
Post Office Box 1355
Buxton, North Carolina 27920
A CALL TO ACTION!!
Urgent—The Timing is Critical!
Do This Today!
6/13/2012
Again we solicit you to participate in the fight for renewed access to our beloved recreational area. The week of June 18, 2012 the US House of Representatives will be called to vote on H. R. 2578 “The Conservation and Economic Growth Act”. This bill incorporates 14 Titles (Bills) that have already passed the Committee on Natural Resources, including H. R. 4094 – “Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act”.
This will be a vote by all members of the House of Representatives, you need to call your representative before this critical vote occurs and request an affirmative vote on this important legislation. We are asking for telephone calls since letters going thru the normal screening processes may not reach your representative in time to solicit his/her vote. Although you will probably be speaking to an aid, your call will be noted and passed on to your representative. Have your friends and family participate, forward this message to your mailing list and post it on your facebook.
Find your representative's telephone number: www.house.gov/representatives
House to Consider Natural Resources Jobs and Public Lands Package
Conservation and Economic Growth Act- H. R. 2578 will create jobs, grow economy, protect environment and promote renewable energy production
WASHINGTON, D.C.
“This grouping of bills will advance important local projects and policies that will have a direct impact on job creation and economic growth in communities throughout the country. The majority of these bills have received bipartisan support and encourage tourism, recreation and responsible use of our public lands and resources,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings
The Conservation and Economic Growth Act-H. R. 2578
Title I: Lower Merced River (HR 2578 - Denham)
- Creates new jobs and helps spur economic growth in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Title II: Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act (HR 460 - Chaffetz)
- Facilitates the development of 50 megawatts of clean, renewable hydropower.
Title III: Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act (HR 1408 - Young, AK)
- Helps protect hundreds of timber jobs in rural and Native communities.
Title IV: San Antonio Missions National Historic Park Boundary Expansion Act (HR 3100 - Canseco)
- Expands the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park boundary.
Title V: Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act of 2012(HR 1545 - Flores)
- Recognizes and establishes the Waco Mammoth site.
Title VI: North Cascade National Park Access (HR 2352 - Hastings, WA)
- Supports recreational access and tourism..
Title VII: Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act (HR 3069 - Hastings, WA)
- Protects endangered Columbia River salmon from predation.
Title VIII: Reauthorization of Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act (HR 3685 - Herger)
- Extends a bipartisan project to implement forest management activities
Title IX: Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act (HR 4039 - Amodei)
- Mandates the sale of approximately 10,200 acres of public lands to the City of Yerington..
Title X: Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act (HR 4094 - Jones)
- Protects jobs and small businesses by restoring and ensuring reasonable pedestrian and motorized access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area in North Carolina.
Title XI: Grazing Improvement Act of 2012 (HR 4234 - Labrador)
- Improves and streamlines the process for renewing livestock grazing permits.
Title XII: Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (HR 3065 - Shuler)
- Supports recreational shooting by providing states greater flexibility.
Title XIII: Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2011(HR 258 - Wittman)
- Facilitates clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay through greater transparency.
Title XIV: National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act (HR 1505 – Bishop, UT)
- Enhances border security by ensuring that Border Patrol has access to federal lands.
Find your Representative @ www.house.gov/representatives
