The week of April 26 will be an important one for all who support access to the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The National Park Service is conducting a series of public meetings on the Outer Banks and in Raleigh and Hampton at which the public can speak or submit written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on off-road vehicle management on the seashore.
Don?t let the title of the document mislead you. This DEIS is not only about ORV access to the seashore. It will set the framework for not only for ORV access to the beaches but also where you can walk, fish, surf, kiteboard, or just about anything else on the seashore. It will affect drivers and pedestrians.
And it is important that all of us make our comments on the Park Service?s preferred alternative, which spells out many of the details the proposals for access.
When I talk to islanders and visitors about the public comment period, which is now open until midnight on May 11, it is discouraging to hear folks say such things as ?What difference will it make?? or ?Their minds are already made up, so why should I bother??
Certainly, no one can guarantee that the comments you make will change any regulation that the Park Service is proposing. And no matter who comments and how many times they comment, there will still be changes to our way of life and on Hatteras and Ocracoke.
But I can assure you that if you do not take the time to comment, these big-time changes to our lifestyle and economy are a sure thing.
So what do you have to lose? Just an hour or half hour of your time to click on some of the links at the end of this blog and make your comments?
The Park Service is conducting a series of meetings Tuesday through Thursday, April 26-29, for the public to make oral comments on the draft plan or to submit comments in writing.
In addition, the Coalition for Beach Access will conduct three more workshops next week ? one in Raleigh, one in Hampton, and one in Hatteras village ? to give you information on making effective comments. In my blog last week, I called it ?DEIS for Dummies.?
And I meant no offense to readers with that title. It?s just true that very few of us can read, digest, and comment on an 810-page document. No harm in getting help from the folks who have read all of it.
The coalition has made it easy for you by noting proposed regulations that its members ? and you ? may take issue with and want to comment on.
You will find information on these meetings at the end of the blog. Along with links to the DEIS, ?DEIS for Dummies,? and the Park Service link for public comment, and more.
A few things to remember on public comment:
Make your comments online at the Park Service?s planning Web site, in a written letter, or at the meetings by speaking or submitting written comments. Do not fax or e-mail your comments. Details on all these ways to comment can be found in the ?DEIS for Dummies? link at the end of the blog.
You can comment as many times as you wish. Every day if you want.
Do not expect the Park Service officials who attend the public meetings to answer questions or make comments on your comments. They are there to listen and record what you have to say ? and only that. The Park Service?s official response ? even to reporters ? has been that once the DEIS is public, there is no response to questions. You can ask your questions when you make your public comments.
More pointers for how to respond can be found in ?DEIS for Dummies,? but try not to be emotional, make accusations, dredge up past history, or make philosophical arguments. Respond directly to a point ? or several points — you agree or disagree with in the DEIS.
A lot of folks who are members of the Coalition for Beach Access have spent a lot of time to make it as easy as possible for you to comment.
So don?t let them down. Don?t let your neighbors and our visitors down. Don?t wait for someone else to do it for you.
And our visitors are every bit as important as islanders in this process. You need to tell the Park Service exactly how these regulations will affect the quality of your visit to the seashore.
Make a comment now ? however modest it is. Time is running out.
EXTENSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
North Carolina Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan and Rep. Walter Jones have sent a request to National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, asking for a 30-day extension on the public comment period.
Today, David Barna, chief of public affairs of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., said in an e-mail that a response to the request was being prepared and will go to the offices of the members of Congress who have requested it. They will make the response public.
So stay tuned.
However, if the request is not granted, you have just a little more than two weeks to comment.
MORE ON PET PEEVES
The preferred alternative on pet regulations got a great deal of attention at the Coalition workshop meetings last week.
It seems that many parts of the regulations are upsetting to the public, but none more than messing with their pets.
I wrote a blog a few weeks ago on the widely varying pet regulations that are referenced in the 810 pages of the DEIS ? ?A pet peeve on the DEIS.?
At the time, I had not had a response from seashore Superintendent Mike Murray on exactly which of these references were the ones that the Park Service intends to regulate pets.
I did get a response last week, and here it is:
?I apologize for the belated response and appreciate your continued interest in the draft off-road vehicle management plan / environmental impact statement (DEIS). As stated previously, please understand that under the NEPA process once a major planning document such as the DEIS is released to the public, NPS does not typically provide responses to individual questions about the document until the release of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), at which time written responses to substantive comments will be provided as part of the FEIS. That said, I hope to assist you in finding the information you are seeking.
?Table 8 on page 113 in Chapter 2 of the DEIS accurately describes how pets would be managed under the various alternatives, with the primary difference between alternatives C and F being the dates and the reopening criteria (in F). If readers think there are inconsistencies or specific items in the DEIS that need to be clarified or if they have recommendation(s) for how they think something should be managed, they may wish to include that in their comments, which can be submitted by the methods described in previous information releases.?
You will have to go back and read my blog for details, but here is a headline: The table Murray references says that pets would be prohibited from Shorebird Management Areas (SMAs) during the nesting season.
For example, Cape Point is an SMA. We are in the shorebird nesting season, but Cape Point is still open ? for the time being ? to ORVs and pedestrians. However, the way I read this proposed regulation, you could still drive or walk to Cape Point but not bring your dog from March 15 ? July 31 ? though another date is mentioned in another table in the document.
You can find out where the other SMAs are and would be under the same pet regulations in the DEIS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
National Park Service public meetings:
Ocracoke
Monday, April 26, 2010 ? 9 until 11 a.m.
Ocracoke School, 1 Schoolhouse Road
(Doors open at 8:30 for sign-in, the meeting will begin at 9.)
Buxton
Monday, April 26, 2010 ? 5 until 8 p.m.
Cape Hatteras Secondary School, 48576 Hwy. 12, Buxton
(Doors open at 4:30 for sign-in, the meeting will begin at 5 p.m.)
Kill Devil Hills
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 ? 6 until 8 p.m.
Wright Brothers National Memorial First Flight Centennial Pavilion, 1000 Croatan Hwy., M.P. 7 ?, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(Doors open at 5:30 for sign-in, the meeting will begin at 6.)
Raleigh, N.C.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 ? 6 until 8 p.m.
McKimmon Conference & Training Center (NC State University Campus), 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC 27695
(Doors open at 5:30 for sign-in, the meeting will begin at 6.)
Hampton, Va.
Thursday, April 29, 2010 ? 6 until 8 p.m.
Holiday Inn & Conference Center, 1815 West Mercury Boulevard, Hampton, VA 23666
(Doors open at 5:30 for sign-in and the meeting will begin at 6.)
Coalition for Beach Access Workshops on Commenting on DEIS
Hatteras village
Tuesday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hatteras Civic Center
Raleigh, N.C.
Tuesday, April 27, at 6 p.m.
The BBQ Lodge, 4600 Capital Boulevard. (919) 872-4755 (This is the night before the NPS public comment meeting in Raleigh.) Meeting conducted by Frank Folb of Frank and Fran?s tackle shop in Avon. Dinner will be available. For reservations and more information, contact Folb at ffff1@mindspring.com or call 252-995-4171.
Hampton, Va.
Wednesday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m.
Sports Marina Superstore, 1071 J Clyde Morris Blvd., Hampton
(The night before the NPS meeting in Hampton. Workshop conducted by Frank Folb.)
And even more information:
To download ?DEIS for Dummies,? go to http://www.obpa-nc.org/position/assessment.pdf.
The Dare County Web site, Preserve Beach Access, videotaped the Coalition for Beach Access workshop in Buxton on commenting on the DEIS. To watch the video go to http://www.darenc.com/video/player.php?title=beach_access_04_13_10.wmv
A more complete position statement by beach access organizations can be downloaded at www.obpa-nc.org/position/statement.pdf
An Electronic Copy of NPS DEIS can be downloaded at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=358&projectId=10641&documentID=32596
You can post your comments on the DEIS here:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkId=358&projectId=10641&documentID=32596
Hi Irene, You are right that we should all comment. In case anyone was wondering, it was very easy to do by starting with the link Irene provides above. Thanks also for the heads-up on your interpretation of the dogs on the beach portion of the proposal. That?s what finally spurred me on to comment. Here?s what I submitted:
I have never shared my thoughts regarding the management plan officially before, but I believe it is important that all of us share with you how various decisions may affect our lives.
My family and I own a home in Buxton where we spend about 3/1/2 months per year, and where my husband and I hope to retire in a year or so. When we are on Hatteras Island, we enjoy walking and sunning on the Buxton beach, walking and bicycling on the park road to the lighthouse and around the Buxton campground, and driving our truck between ramp 34 and Frisco to watch sunsets, pick up shells, have an occasional picnic dinner, or a walk with our dog Millie.
On these drives, we enjoy watching and trying to identify the many shorebirds that are so different than those here in Ohio, and we respect the need to protect their habitat. However, honestly, it does seem kind of ridiculous to ?protect? species during the spring and summer that are truly not endangered at the expense of thousands of people?s ability to enjoy the seashore.
Having said that, I also believe it is equally ridiculous to allow driving on all parts of the seashore. As much as I love our beach drives, when I look at the effects of all the tire tracks on the driving parts of the beach vs the pristine look of the Buxton, and other beaches, where there is no driving, there is a difference. People who want to walk on an undisturbed stretch of beach should have that right too. And I don?t understand why ?walkers? should be restricted from parts of the seashore for any real length of time. If walkers can be expected to respect turtle closures, why can?t they be expected to respect bird closure areas?
In summary, I guess you would say I am a moderate in regards to the plan?s design. I oppose closing huge stretches of the recreational seashore for all human access during the nesting months, and I also oppose the notion that anyone should be able to drive anywhere at anytime.
One final thought: I will be very sad if Millie is prohibited from riding in our truck to watch the sunset or to walk on her leash with me while I look for shells.
I agree, we all need to comment and voice our opinions, both local?s and visitors to the island. I?m from Ohio and when I come to Hatteras on vacation it?s to escape from the daily norm back at home and to enjoy the beaches, surf fishing, boarding and just cruising the beach in my jeep. There is something spiritual about Hatteras, the vibes are good but those good vibes are being clouded by all these regulations created by humans that don?t understand ?true nature?. My family started vacationing and surf fishing in Hatteras in the early 50?s when the beaches were a lot more open. The beaches have shrunk since then but still hold so many good memories, lets get back to those simpler times. The islander?s and visitors who truley love Hatteras and the Banks respect the beaches and the wildlife, always have, I?m one of those people. So lets all unite and send out positive vibes that we will have the freedom to drive, walk and fish the beaches of Hatteras and all of the Outer Banks. Lets take the power back, peace!
A workshop by OBPA has also been scheduled for Wednesday May 5th at the Rodanthe Waves Salvo Community Building 7:00 pm.
From the OBPA Board
OBPA DEIS Workshop for Surfers, KiteBoarders,WindSurfers ? April 30
The Outer Banks Preservation Association will host a DEIS workshop on Friday, April 30th at 7:00 pm at the Fesseden Center in Buxton. If you?re a surfer, kiteboarder, windsurfer, or anyone else interested in what the effect of the DEIS will be on you, and how you can help preserve beach access, please come!
posted by OBPA Board of Directors