Vehicles get more access to Cape Hatteras beaches

By Catherine Kozak
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 3, 2009

A U.S. district judge on Tuesday approved a little more access for off-road vehicles in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, as well as allowing for areas closed because of violations to be re opened if the violator is caught.

After Sept. 15, closure times for unhatched turtle nests will go from a full closure to sunset to 6 a.m. Vehicular access for commercial fishermen, under certain conditions, will be permitted from 5 to 6 a.m.

When there are violations of pre-nesting areas and resource buffers, the requirement for the National Park Service to expand the buffer would be lifted if a violator was caught.

Previously, the agreement mandated expansion of a buffer in protected areas each time it was disturbed or vandalized, regardless of whether the culprit was apprehended.

"This is an improvement on what we had," Dare County Attorney and Assistant County Manager Bobby Outten said after the hearing.

The consent decree settled a lawsuit filed against the Park Service by the National Audubon Society and the Defenders of Wildlife, which contended that more protection was needed to protect shorebirds and sea turtles from ORV use in the seashore. But Dare and Hyde counties fought to preserve beach access.

With the height of the bird breeding season approaching, much of ORV beach access is limited.

Since last weekend, ramps 44, 23 and 27 have been closed because breeding behavior, nests or chicks were observed.

Although the environmental groups were happy with the consent decree the way it was, they were willing to accept the modifications, said Julie Youngman, senior attorney with the Raleigh-based Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents the groups.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com

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Oh the environs have been

Submitted by Salvo Jimmy on Fri, 06/05/2009 at 11:15 am.

Oh the environs have been here, at least during REG-NEG. But I'll indicate to you their depth of knowledge of the area.

Prior to REG-NEG getting underway, some were given several orientation tours. I was present when the lawyer representing DOW, who wound up on REG-NEG, stood on Cape Point. He wondered why there were wildlife closures at the time only on the "soundside", pointing to the South side of the Point and none on the ocean, pointing to the North side of the Point.

Frightening, huh ????

Environmentalists at the Beach?

Submitted by edv82481 on Fri, 06/05/2009 at 8:30 am.

I would bet my next paycheck that not one of the so-called 'environmentalists' forcing the closure has ever been to Cape Hatteras. I doubt they would know what to do with themselves if they did spend a day at the beach.

Good adjustment

Submitted by neck on Wed, 06/03/2009 at 4:52 pm.

Glad to see the closure will be lifted if the vandals are caught.
Something tells me this will help with enforcement, plus this will put a damper on the conspiracy theorists that think that environmentalists are roving the beach at night in an SUV, drunk with glee and driving into closed areas to make them bigger.