Over the two months, we have published a series of blogs that cast light on the finances of the five environmental activist groups that are involved in lawsuits that have had and will have a profound effect on our islands.
We looked at Form 990, the form that non-profit, tax-exempt organizations must file with the Internal Revenue Service.
We presented the numbers without comment, though I?m sure many of you have found, as I have, that some of those numbers are attention getting. Others are just?.well, interesting.
The first week, we looked at the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is the tie that binds the others. SELC is based in Charlottesville, Va., with an office in Chapel Hill, N.C., and is representing the other environmental groups in three major lawsuits in the federal courts that have or will affect our life and lifestyle and economy.
All three are in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. They are:
- A lawsuit Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society filed in 2011 against the National Park Service for its lack of an ORV management plan, which the groups claimed resulted in inadequate protections for nesting shorebirds and turtles. It was settled by a 2008 consent decree but is still being ?overseen? by federal Judge Terrence Boyle.A lawsuit that Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Refuge Association filed against the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and others to stop the plan to replace the aging Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet. A federal judge ruled in favor or DOT on Sept. 16. The plaintiffs have appealed the decision. In addition, SELC, on behalf of its clients, is challenging a state-issued Major CAMA Permit in the state judicial system.
- A lawsuit in which Defenders of Wildlife and the National Parks Conservation Association are defendant-intervenors on the side of the federal government. In this case, filed in February 2012, the Cape Hatteras Preservation Alliance sued the Department of Interior, the National Park Service, and others to overturn the Park Service?s ORV plan and final rule. This case is currently also before federal Judge Terrence Boyle.
The second in the series looked at the National Audubon Society, the richest of these groups in income and the amount of assets it is sitting on. Next, we focused on Defenders of Wildlife, based in Washington, D.C., which is a party to all three suits, and the National Parks Conservation Association. Both of these groups are well financed but not as wealthy as Audubon.
The fifth and final of blog, looked at the National Wildlife Refuge Association, also based in Washington, D.C., and the poor cousin of the other groups with income of only $1.4 million.
In this blog, we?ll take a look at two of the most active beach access advocacy groups, the Outer Banks Preservation Association and the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association.
Some readers have commented on the previous blogs that they did not understand the reason for this exercise.
Maybe this will make it clearer.
The outside environmental groups that are fighting in court to change our lives and lifestyles have the funds to easily win in this public relations battle.
And, believe me, it is a public relations battle.
These groups e-mail their many supporters and members and the media, most of which have probably never been to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and know nothing of the issues, stressing the demise of baby birds and turtles.
They have plenty of money to fight with and to go to court with ? although if they win lawsuits against the federal government, their fees come from us the taxpayers.
In comparison, the access advocacy groups trying to get their message out have practically no funds to fight with. It?s being done on a shoestring.
The National Audubon Society, for example, has 42 vice-presidents and 38 employees who make more than $100,000 a year.
OBPA and NCBBA brought in just over $100,000 in revenue, according to their 2012 Form 990s.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUTER BANKS PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION?S FORM 990
The Outer Banks Preservation Association was first formed in the mid-1970s when the National Park Service was formulating its first off-road vehicle plan for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
That plan was never published in the Federal Register and made official by the Park Service. However, the seashore operated under much of that plan for years.
After a failed attempt at negotiated rulemaking in 2008-09, the Park Service finally wrote its own ORV plan, which became effective in February, 2012.
The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance, a project of OBPA, has filed a lawsuit to stop the very restrictive plan.
OBPA?s mission is to preserve and protect, not prohibit, the public?s right to access to the seashore?s beaches.
OBPA filed a 990-EZ form for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2012 and ending Dec. 31, 2012.
The group claimed total income of $118,751 and total expenses of $117,202. The excess ? or profit ? for the year was $1,549.
The fund balance at the beginning of the year was $188,752, which brings the fund balance at the end of the year to $190,301.
The group?s cash, savings, and investments were $205,801 at the end of 2012, and its liabilities included a $15,500 loan from the United Mobile Access Preservation Association.
OBPA says that $82,684 of its revenue came from contributions, gifts, grants or other amounts received and that $31,715 came from membership dues and assessments.
Net income from fundraising events was $2,939 and the gross profit from the sales of such things as T-shirts amounted to $1,413.
Expenses included $105,018 for professional fees and payments to independent contractors, $5,163 for printing, publications, postage, and shipping, and $7,021 in other expenses. Other expenses included, among other things, $2,250 for advertising and $2,065 for meetings and travel.
OBPA paid $98,360 in 2012 to its Washington, D.C., attorneys to file the lawsuit against Department of Interior and the Park Service. It also spent $8,916 for lobbying.
In 2012, the group had an eight-member board of directors, none of whom were paid.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA BEACH BUGGY ASSOCIATION?S FORM 990
This is what the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association?s website says about its history.
?The first official meeting of the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association was held in March of 1964 in John Yancey Motor Lodge in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., bringing to fruition the idea of creating an organization discussed two years earlier in 1962. For those who don’t know, in early March 1962, a fierce nor?easter slammed the entire East Coast, causing devastating losses to the coastal communities from Florida to Maine. In fact, Buxton Inlet was formed between Avon and Buxton during the storm that was artificially closed soon after the opening. The Outer Banks beaches took a tremendous pounding, and in the aftermath, the government was considering closing the beaches to off-road vehicles (ORVs). This did not happen, but the potential for such a closure raised concern among a few local citizens.?
NCBBA says that ?since its inception, the NCBBA assumed the role of stewards for the beaches of the Outer Banks. First and foremost, and to this day, the NCBBA strives to ensure continued access to the beaches for everyone.?
The group was actively involved in the failed negotiated rulemaking process for an ORV plan at the seashore and has been supportive of the legal efforts of the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance.
NCBBA?s most recent 990 was filed for 2012 for the year beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2012.
NCBBA reported total income of $107,815 and expenses of $137,309. The deficit for the year was -$29,494.
The group had a fund balance at the beginning of the year of $209,157, and, with the deficit, ended the year with a fund balance of $179,663.
Revenue included $23,749 in contributions, gifts, and grants, $66,810 in membership dues, $3,955 in investment income, $5,070 from fundraising events, and $8,231 in the sales of such things as T-shirts, decals, and other branded merchandise.
Expenses included $44,421 in grants and similar amount paid. They were paid to Outer Banks Preservation Association, $20,000; Education scholarships, $6,000; Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men, $15,102; Operation Barbecue Relief, $500; Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative for children?s Santa gifts, $250; Nags Head Surf Fishing Club, $1,624; Jennette?s Pier summer camp, $225; Outer Banks Community Foundation, $120, and Chicamacomico Fire and Water Rescue, $500.
Some other expenses claimed were $1,025 for advertising, $2,561 for office expenses, $15,462 for membership, $3,586 for travel, and $36,404 for information technology.
NCBBA lists 12 members on its board of directors. Two are paid for duties performed ? the treasurer was paid $2,000 and another director $11,000.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Click here to see all of the Outer Banks Preservation Association?s Form 990.
Click here to see all the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association?s From 990.
