North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr introduced legislation in the Senate on Monday to overturn the consent decree that has managed Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches since April of 2008.
The bill, S 1557, would return management of the park to the Interim Protected Species Management Plan until the Park Service devises a long-term plan for off-road vehicles on the beaches, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of next year and become effective in 2011.
North?s Carolina?s Democratic Senator, Kay Hagan, will ?absolutely? co-sponsor the legislation, her communications director, Stephanie Allen, said today. The legislation in the Senate is a companion bill to HR 718, which U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R.-N.C., introduced in January.
Both bills are short and simple. Their stated purpose is ?to reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicles use on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, pending the issuance of a final rule for off-road vehicle use by the National Park Service.? The bill has only two short sections ? one to reinstate the interim strategy and one that says the consent decree would no long apply.
The consent decree, signed on April 30, 2008 by a federal judge, settled a lawsuit against the Park Service by environmental groups that did not think the interim plan went far enough to protect nesting birds and sea turtles. The terms of the consent decree are much more restrictive than the interim plan with increased buffers for nesting birds and a night ban on driving on the beaches. And the increased beach closures, especially in popular recreational areas of the park, are taking a toll on the Outer Banks economy.
The House and Senate versions of the bills are identical to two that were introduced last year and died in committees.
Jones introduced a bill last summer in the House, and Republican Sens. Burr and Elizabeth Dole introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
The Senate bill had a subcommittee hearing in July, 2008, and the House bill had a subcommittee hearing in September ? on the same day the Senate subcommittee voted down reporting out the bill.
At the time, Daniel Wenk, then a NPS deputy director, said the Park Service preferred the consent decree over its interim plan, which had been through several years of public hearings and comment periods, approved by the powers that be at the Department of Interior in Washington, and published in the Federal Register.
Burr has said since January that he intended to introduce another bill this year, but he was looking for Hagan to co-sponsor it ? not only because it would look nicer for both of the states U.S. senators to be on board.
But in a Congress controlled by the Democrats, Democratic co-sponsors are politically necessary to move legislation out of committees and to the floor.
Jones has had six Republican co-sponsors for his bill for quite some time. Last Friday, July 31, North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield became the first Democratic co-sponsor.
Interest in the legislation to reinstate the interim plan picked up after Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Warren Judge and County Manager and Attorney Bobby Outten spent several days in Washington, D.C., last week.
?We went to Washington,? Judge said in a media release, ?to meet face-to-face with members of Congress to explain the economic, social and cultural harm caused by beach closures.?
He added, ?We are grateful to Senator Burr for reintroducing S1557. It is a step in the right direction for the residents and visitors of Dare County.?
?Sen. Burr is going to work as hard as he can to make things right again,? his communications director, David Ward, said today.
Hagan?s spokeswoman Allen said that, although she had a family emergency and was not in Washington today, Hagan ?is absolutely going to be a co-sponsor.?
?Sen. Hagan sees this as a positive for the community and an economic boost to the area,? Allen said.
She added that Hagan is interested ?in finding a responsible long-term plan? that will balance protecting resources with recreation.
The House left for its summer recess last Friday, and the Senate plans to recess at the end of this week, so there will be no developments until after Labor Day.
The bills have been assigned to committees, but it remains to be seen if this year?s version of the legislation will fare any better than last year?s doomed bills.
Islanders and visitors who want to boost this legislation (or not), can write to their members of Congress.
The contact information for your representatives and senators can be found at http://www.senate.gov/ or http://www.house.gov/
Information about how to write a letter can be found on the Dare County Web site:
www.PreserveBeachAccess.org
This is good news- and we can all stand a little.
I feel a bit like Charlie Brown with Lucy holding the football, but I?ll take the chance.
If this is carried it?ll be a big boost for morale and likely our activity level and economy.
You?ve got that right, Fred.
I guess I need to apologize to the senator for my recent snotty email on his bagging the Jon Jarvis confirmation hearing. I?m sure a campaign contribution will make it all better.
Please,Lord,let this be light in the tunnel and not just another train?
Just maybe recent Island Free Press Blogs and public comments are getting read by Senator Burr and Senator Hagan?election season is upon us. The Island Free Press editor has a way of getting the attention of politicians and their staff. But the real challenge is to get the bills passed and signed and then get NPS to do its job for the public. We have a long way to go.
I am extremely happy to see that the efforts of severl people, orgs and the Dare County Commisioners has proven that a lot of work, by many individuals ?can achieve results. This is great news and I hope all will continue their pressure and encourage others to join in, as their will be many new obstacles to overcome involving this Bill in the near future. Good Job to all.
After another wonderful trip to the island I am glad to see a possibility in the near future of the restoration of the Enjoyment of the People as it was originally intended. PS It was a pleasure meeting you this last week whe Alan Pitt and our friends and families took his boat out.