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The National Park Service is holding public meetings this week - including one today in Kill Devil Hills and one Thursday in Hampton - to gather comments on its controversial plan for managing access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore for off-road vehicles, pedestrians and pets.
The park service's 810-page document, which includes one preferred option among six alternatives, seeks to provide access to the Outer Banks beach for off-road vehicles, surfers, anglers and others while protecting habitat for birds and turtles. The effort to find a balance between recreational use of the seashore and protection of its wildlife has provoked strong reactions and emotions on both sides.
The agency favors allowing off-road vehicles on about 29 miles of the seashore's 68 miles of beach year-round and barring them from about 16 miles of shoreline. The other 23 miles would be open to ORVs from Aug. 1 to March 14.
Once a management plan is completed next year, it will be in effect for 10 to 15 years.
Copies of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Draft Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement will be available at each of the public meetings.
The Kill Devil Hills session is 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Wright Brothers National Memorial First Flight Centennial Pavilion, 1000 Croatan Highway, Milepost 7.5.
The Hampton meeting is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center, 1815 West Mercury Blvd.
Written comments will also be accepted at the public meetings, online through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website, or by mail to Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, N.C. 27954.
For more information, follow this link: http://tinyurl.com/35jzrg8.
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