The National Park Service has answered seven questions posed by a federal judge, but he still is demanding more details about new beach driving rules proposed for Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
In a series of filings Tuesday, the Park Service submitted a 15-page response to U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle's April 18 order directing the agency to answer questions about off-road vehicle use at the seashore.
The judge's inquiry was concerned with controls at beach accesses; locations of access ramps; vehicle counts and restrictions; permitting, qualifications and safety screening of drivers and vehicles; and pedestrian safety.
On Tuesday, Boyle issued another order to the Park Service with additional questions about off-road vehicle traffic.
Now, the judge wants to know about staffing and budget needs; possible alternatives to using ORVs to gain access to the beach; whether the Park Service anticipates allowing public comment on a proposed beach driving agreement; and whether technical witnesses can be provided to testify about beach access and closure maps. Information must be filed with the court by Monday.
Boyle's orders are in response to a consent decree filed on April 16. If the agreement is approved by the judge, it would settle a lawsuit brought by the Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society against the Park Service. Dare and Hyde counties and the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance had joined as defendent-intervenors.
The Park Service said in its response to the judge Tuesday that the agreement was not meant to replace a mandated ORV regulation or to resolve all the issues that would be addressed in the rule-making process that is under way.
"Rather," federal attorneys wrote, "the proposed consent decree is intended to put interim environmental protection measures in place, pending the final review and consideration of all of the relevant factors and the promulgation of the final special regulation."
The environmental groups have contended that the Park Service's interim ORV manageement plan did not give enough protection to nesting shorebirds and sea turtles.
The biggest changes that would result from the proposed agreement would be that night beach driving would be restricted from May 1 to
Nov. 15, and driving between Sept. 16 and Nov. 15 would only be allowed with permits. The proposal also would increase the buffer zone for unfledged piping plovers.
The judge set a hearing for April 30 in Raleigh.
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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Thank God. .
Finally a judge who does his/her job! Asking the right questions. Trucks have no business at all trouncing over the beach where migratory birds and turtles are trying to survive. No wonder you see so many fat rednecks around; Everything they do involves machine equipment and gasoline. Why don't these slobs walk or ride bikes to the beach and tow their equipment?
ORV Access to Hatteras Island
I think the judge is in right field and they are hitting the ball in the left field. What does controlling access, etcetra have to do with perserving the resouces of the island ( - Birds and Turtles)?
Too bad we can't impeach the judge
This guy is a total jerk who has, like Mark below, never set foot on any of these beaches! Get out of your robe and put on some shorts and drive down there and see what is going on.
Good questions
The judge is asking the right questions. Beach driving should always be consistent with protection of bird habitat. Let's give the National Park Service the public support to do this right.
BEACH DRIVING
I am a old timer that learned to drive on the beach in the 70s when you could go to Sandbridge, drive onto the beach take a right and drive till you got to the Outter banks. That was the good old days and they shouldn't stop now!! The sportsman should be able to fish--(surf cast)
just as hunters should be able to hunt.The surf casters always have been respectfull to the beach and much more respectfull than the beach goere that leave all there trash and there chairs too. there is more wildlife preserves than ever before. WE NEED NO MORE RESTRICTIONS
Go Away and Stay Away
This is the right coast, the mid Atlantic in fact. We don't need sofistcated Californicators or Northerners to intrude in our way of life and traditions.
Go far away and find another cause to rally behind, preferably in your own home towns...
marks57720
Finally, someone with some sense is going to do something about this. Vehicles belong on roads not beaches!
ORV ACCESS
The judge asked if their was other ways to access the beach without an ORV, which I assume stands for "Off Road Vehicle". I guess we could buy a boat, fly in with a helicopter, or possibly sky dive in and hike out. Or drive in with a street vehicle and have a wrecker standing by. The beach belongs to all of us and I have never seen the exgaggerated incidents that are listed by the complainants. In fact, I wish the streets were patrolled half as well as the beaches I visit and enjoy.
what this really is.
This is really an attempt of the Al Gore types to try to make themselves feel good. The protections already in place for the turtles and birds are adequate and do a good job of protecting the animals. These bunch of environmental extremist cannot fathom that you can actually drive a vehicle on the beach and not interfere with nature and even interact with nature. My family visits the Outer Banks several times throughout the year. My kids have learned about nature and have witnessed nature first hand thanks to being able to drive on the beach. They have learned the importance of being responsible for the environment. We have taken off bags of washed up trash from the beach. This is trash that floats to the beach from the ocean, not trash that other off road drivers have left. If it weren't for the off roaders this trash would stay piled up on the beach. The Park Service already does an excellent job of marking off nesting areas and protecting birds and turtles. The only people I have seen in the barriers are the environmentalist themselves, go figure.
Haterras Beach
Let'em drive on the beach...it belongs to us!