The National Park Service invited the public to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on its off-road vehicle plan at a series of five meetings this week.
They came and they spoke.
They spoke solidly in favor of more access than the Park Service is proposing in its preferred alternative, Alternative F, in the DEIS.
They overwhelmingly disliked the proposed alternative and gave their reasons in great detail.
About 800 people attended five Park Service meetings on the Outer Banks and in Raleigh, N.C., and Hampton, Va. Some 220 comments were received at the meetings.
Not one speaker favored Alternative F.
About 206 comments were from people who said they did not like the measures the Park Service was proposing to regulate ORV and pedestrian access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches because they were too restrictive.
Only 14 speakers favored more restricted ORV access to the beaches. Ten of those comments were from representatives of the two environmental organizations ? Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society — that sued the Park Service over its lack of an ORV regulation and the Southern Environment Law Center, which represented the two groups in the lawsuit.
They also do not favor Alternative F because, they said, it does not go far enough to protect birds and turtles. They favor Alternative D, the Park Service environmentally preferred alternative and the most restrictive of the six. However, these speakers noted that they did not think there were enough pedestrian?only areas of the seashore.
Another four comments were from members of the public who have little or no use for ORVs on the beach.
It should be noted that the numbers include people ? both for or against more access — who attended multiple meetings and a few attended all and made comments
The breakdown for each meeting was:
- Ocracoke. 86 signed in and 31 made public comments.
- Buxton. 323 signed in and 68 signed up for public comment.
- Kill Devil Hills. 147 signed in and 45 signed up for public comment.
- Raleigh. 109 signed in and 45 signed up for public comment.
- Hampton. 128 signed in and 45 made public comments.
The Park Service will collect these public comments ? along with comments submitted in writing and electronically on the Park Planning Web site ? and will compile them, reply to them, and issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement in the fall.
Of course, we don?t know what folks have submitted in writing or on the Web site, but if the public meetings are any indication, the National Park Service is taking a whipping over what it has proposed thus far.
I attended the meeting in Buxton on Monday, April 26, and called and got comments from others who attended the meetings in Ocracoke, Kill Devil Hills, Raleigh, and Hampton.
The Coalition for Beach Access conducted meetings and an online campaign to help folks with public comment on this monster of a document. Largely because of the hard work of this group of volunteers, most people who commented focused their remarks in the three-minute time allotted on specific proposals in the DEIS and preferred alternative. The comments were factual, to the point, and delivered in a deliberative manner.
Similar themes ran through comments at all of the meetings. The people who commented focused on such issues as:
- The lack of sound, peer-reviewed science in the plan for managing resources.
- Buffers for shorebird nests and chicks. The 1,000-meter buffer for piping plover chicks came in for its share of withering criticism and lack of a basis in science.
- The economic impacts of Alternative F. More than one speaker let loose on the economic impact study, which is not yet finished. They said it is vague and does not fairly represent the losses to businesses because of the beach closures.
- The fact the Park Service and the environmental groups will not count birds nesting on offshore and dredge islands within sight of park land.
- The large number of predators ? foxes, raccoons, minks, and other animals ? trapped and killed by the Park Service to protect nesting birds.
- The year-round closure of Hatteras Inlet spit and the north point of Ocracoke.
- The protection of birds that are not listed by federal government as endangered or threatened, but are listed only as species of special concern by the state.
- The vegetation at the points and spits, especially the Salt Pond at Cape Point, where ORVs have been prohibited and vegetation has grown up, making the areas unsuitable for nesting and giving predators cover.
- The fact that the plan does not allow for ORV or pedestrian corridors through or around bird nesting areas.
- Turtle nesting policies that prohibit relocating nests to keep them safer from weather and predators.
- The prohibition on night driving to protect sea turtles, which some speakers said was not necessary.
- The restrictions under Alternative F do not recognize the cultural and historical uses of the seashore beaches.
- The regulation of pets, many noted, is much too restrictive.
- The fact that many elderly or disabled people cannot have access to the popular areas of the beach without an ORV.
At the beginning of each meeting, a facilitator for the Park Service talked about the ground rules, which included commenting with respect and courtesy and remaining quiet during each three-minute presentation so the court reporter could record the comments.
For the most part, the attendees played by the rules and did not applaud until speakers had finished their comments.
The one exception was the meeting in Buxton when some beach access advocates verged on being out of control and the Park Service facilitator had a hard time keeping the meeting under control.
Even though most of those who spoke in Buxton stayed on point, more strayed off point in their comments, and others in the audience were rude and uncivil when two representatives of the environmental groups ? Derb Carter of the Southern Environmental Law Center and Chris Canfield of North Carolina Audubon ? offered their three minutes of comment. They hissed and booed and shouted such things as ?liar? during the presentation.
One person commented that he hoped SELC and Audubon ?rotted in hell.? Another speaker called seashore superintendent Mike Murray ?a goddamned warden.?
The pent-up emotion and anger was most apparent here in Buxton because most of the people who are being affected by changes in lifestyle and economics under the consent decree live here or visit here.
Almost everyone can understand that.
However, it gave the representative from Audubon the opportunity to state at the meeting in Raleigh that there are many more people who agree with what the environmental groups want but won?t speak out because of their fear of intimidation and threats from residents of the seashore?s villages.
We cannot give the environmental groups the opportunity to portray us as violent or threatening or as a bunch of ignorant rednecks.
If you missed the meetings, you can still send written comments or post comments on the Park Planning Web site until midnight, Mountain Time, which is 1 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. (The reason is that the park planning folks are located in Denver.)
Murray said at the meetings that the Final Impact Statement and Notice of Availability are expected in the fall, along with the publication of the Park Service?s proposed regulation.
He said the Park Service expected to sign a Record of Decision before Dec. 31 and issue a final regulation by April of next year.
I?ll be blogging next week in more detail about some of the comments and provisions of Alternative F ? before the period for comment closes.
And please remember that you can comment as many times as you wish.
For more information
To download ?DEIS for Dummies,? a guide to commenting prepared by the Coalition for Beach Access, 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
Just finished printing out my comments on the DEIS. 5 typewritten pages I?ll get in the mail next week. The Coalition?s Guide to comments can really help to keep you on point and its pretty easy to download. Try to get friends, property owners, visitors from out of state to write comments also: I think that?s our best chance to pull this off.
Having wrestled unsuccessfully in attempting to make Alternative F palatable, I have convinced myself that this is a waste of time.
I shall, henceforth, support returning to Alternative A. That can be satisfactory.
One interesting comment at Hampton was from as I recall a disabled combat Vet who opened with his dissapointment that a Federal public hearing would be started without the Pledge of Allegiance or at least a flag present.
Needless to say he got a resounding round of applause. and there were a few RED faces on officials at the front of the room.
Just received this from OBPA
The request for a 30 day extension of the DEIS was denied. John Couch Pres OBPA
After attending the Hampton meeting last night I have a better idea of what to say in my written submission to the Park Planning website. Even though I have already written once, I will be writing again. It moved me so to hear the passion of the speakers last night?.folks who feel the same as I do and had the courage to stand up and speak. To those folks?..THANK YOU!
I?m sad. I?m sad because ignorant people are taking away my paridise. The most beautiful beaches in the world are being taken away.
Go to the Gulf you Audobons and Defenders. Go harass British Petroleum people. Maybe when your done with them and everything is cleaned up you can shut down those beaches. Whats happening there kind of makes what you are doing here seem awful petty.
DEIS, Alternative X,Y,Z. Eighthundred and ten pages of what? Please. Go away.
Everything was just fine till you people came along. The Park Service was closing beaches for these birds way before YOU came along. Get a life. Open up a zoo or something. Call it Piping Plover Place.
A couple comments regarding the meeting in Raleigh? ? Mr. Canfield didnt just say there were many more who were afraid to speak out, he said they felt ?bullied?. That really grinded my gears. Audubon and DOW, with their money and huge membership, they are the bully here. ? Mr. Carter said they (SELC) were disappointed there wasnt a valid ?No Action? alternative in the DEIS. Since in their eyes beach driving wasnt technically allowed prior to the consent decree, they think there should be a no action alternative that bans all driving on the seashore beaches.
I really dont like these guys.
Chris Canfield of NC Audubon was the only one here in Raleigh, at least that I heard, who violated ground rules by making personal attacks (bullies and intimidators). While the pro-access people had facts and figures and stuck to comments on the DEIS, it was Canfield who made accusations of ?many more won?t speak out?. How does he know that?
Derb Carter was said to say the there was ?No? no action alternative in the 800 plus pages of the DEIS and I agree with him on that point, but not on his referred to statement that because there was ?no plan? before the interim plan the no action plan would have been no vehicles were allowed on the beach is totally fiction! The 2004 plan was the Draft plan of 1978 with updates and additions placed in it by superindent?s compendiums each year. If my last statement is incorrect then how was a Federal Judge handing out fines, probation and maybe even jail sentences for ORV use on the seashore? The true no action plane was the 1978 draft plan and the updates through 2004 that the seashore was operating under.
Not sure less than 1,000 comments out of more than 300 million can be considered ?the public?.
?The pent-up emotion and anger was most apparent here in Buxton because most of the people who are being affected by changes in lifestyle and economics under the consent decree live here or visit here.
Almost everyone can understand that.?
I am one of the people who cannot understand that. At the Buxton meeting I observed screaming at the NPS CHNS Supt, refusing to yield to other speakers and cat calling and booing speakers with oppoising view in my opinion the behavior displayed in Buxton is not acceptable under any circumstances. I was fortunate to attend the Kill Devil Hills meeting where all views were presented without the bad behavior displayed at the Buxton meeting.
Dennis,
The ORV groups, users and mouth pieces are very effective at shooting themselves in the foot. This is proven daily.
It?s hard to lose something you love. It?s hard to lose someone you love. It?s hard to lose a way of life. It?s hard to lose a job. It?s hard to lose money. It?s hard to lose ability to pay rent. It?s hard to lose ability to buy food. HOW UNEMOTIONAL ARE YOU, DENNIS, WHEN YOU LOSE WHAT YOU CHERISH?
Barbara,
It is hard to give respect when none is presented. When one stands before a group of people and offers his/her opinion on a issue, he/she expects the common courtesy of respect for everyone to listen and not interupt what is said. When one gets and yet does not give that same courtesy it is called disrespect and calling that disrespect ?emotion? is nothing more than an unacceptable excuse for bad behavior.
My intent on attending the meeting was to listen to both sides of the issue; however I found it was difficult to get past the constant disruptions at the Buxton meeting. I did notice that many speakers left right after presenting their oral comments instead of listening to all the comments presented which I found a bit strange.
I have heard over and over, ?it is not about the birds? and after attending the Buxton DEIS meeting, I somewhat believe that statement. For some it seems to be more of a deep resentment and ?hate? of the National Park Service and the DEIS Buxton meeting was an opportunity to display that anger.
The words ?bully and intimidation? have been used and anyone who attended the DEIS Buxton meeting who denies those words fit the tone of the meeting needs a real reality check.
Dennis The Menace. You are ignorant meaning lacking in knowledge. Go away.
Bob, through education, ignorance can be cured. The better tack, if you believe someone is lacking in knowledge is to fill that gap. If they refuse to accept that knowledge and can?t refute it, then they?re just stupid, and there?s no cure for that. I?ve seen nothing in Dennis? posts that implies ignorance. I was at the Buxton meeting and he?s being kind.
Dennis,
I find it quite intersting that you were so surprised by the animosity diplayed at what is best decribed as “Ground Zero” in this matter. Did you expect the folks most affected by this to give out flowers to those who have harmed them and their livelihoods? Laughable?.
Just for the record, the only two infractions given at the Hampton, VA DEIS meeting went to the man and woman from DOW who BOTH admonished the crowd over their shoulders for their “stupidity”. The facilitator spanked them for this, and they were both met with deafening silence ONLY when they left the podium.
This particular meeting was prime example of civilty on behalf of the access proponents, with only the enviros vocalizing their disdain for their opponents. Mike Murray still took it on the chin, but that just comes with the territory he has placed himself in.
No lack of ugliness on both sides of this issue, Dennis, as we?ve been called “Beach Bums” and worse since the very beginning of this debacle. What comes around goes around?.
Crotalus,
Now that is the pot calling the kettle black?. Where were you in Hampton. I spoke! Why didn?t You?
Dapster,
I find it interesting that you think this issue is laughable because I find it anything but.
?Ground zero?, hardly! My expectations were opinions of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement pro and con. Flowers no, courtesy and respect yes!
Just for the record, I also attended the Kill Devil Hills meeting and although the speakers were primarly pro access, they afforded those with other opinions the courtesy of letting them speak without interference and most speakers stayed on point as for what the meeting was intended.
For many years the throwing stones attitude has not produced any positive results. The DEIS is on the table and it up to the National Park Service to make a final decision on the outcome. My suggestion is to provide input to that document and not try and kill the messenger presenting it!
No Dennis killing the messenger would be bad, But killing 1200+ mammals and shutting down beaches by suing, Now that is what I call RESPECT and COURTESY?
?If they refuse to accept that knowledge and can?t refute it, then they are just stupid, and there?s no cure for that.?
What if the so-called ?knowledge? is only one side of an issue, devoid of a balanced perspective of the entire issue? What if one?s arguments don?t refute those issues, but interjects valid, but equally biased points that support a different viewpoint? An ad hominem attack is still an ad hominem attack no matter how one tries to disguise it.
Boogamite,
As the other saying goes, everyone?s entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. As to the first saying/tautology, (ignorance can be cured, stupidity can?t) I don?t see where you find the ?disguised? ad hom, or were you addressing Bob?s post?
And so it goes?
Dennis,
You totally circumvented my point, but no surprise there.
Your claim that the village of Buxton is NOT the geographical and symbolic epicenter of this matter is again, laughable. While it is unfortunate that what was described did occur, it should come as a surprise to no one. If you are ever confronted with such losses in your life, you might just react in kind.
Throwing stones? Not a very apt description, as “Placing Blame” where it absolutely belongs is more what has occurred here. Is the general public at fault for the 30+ year lag in getting a final plan in place? No. The NPS and the DOI share that fine distinction, thank you very much.
Personally, I?m thankful that Mike Murray has provided continuity in the process by staying in what has to be an exasperating and thankless job at this juncture. While I haven?t always agreed with some of the browbeatings he?s taken during his tenure, he is the sole face and figurehead of the CHNSRA NPS unit, and he is experiencing the downside of both his position and the decisions of his predecessors.
dap,
Then shouldn?t the blame fall on the political machine and its contributors who prevented reasonable (any) measures from being codified for the last 30+ years? Look what they did to Belli?..
Dapster,
Please, not the ?placing blame? game! I know the game is easy to play, but there are never any winners, only losers no matter who plays it.
Now in my opinion a game to play is the: DEIS. This is a serious game which there can be many winners, but if you try and play it using the ?placing blame? rules you are surely destined to lose. This game must be taken very seriously because the outcome will affect all of us who use Cape Hatteras National Seashore and our children and our children?s children.
I am not exacty fond of your term ?figurehead? in describing Mike Murray because he is much more than that. He is a NPS professional who realizes his responsiblity to all of us in administering CHNS and with the help of all of us who take the DEIS seriously will make a sound judgment. I am sure CHNS Supt. Murray would appreciate people not screaming at him or playing the blame game with him, but either way he will accomplish his assigned task.
Dennis,
So you don?t believe in accountability? Should we just do away with our courts of law so all citizens can live without the fear of ever being “blamed” for something? Just who do YOU believe is “responsible” for being 30+ years late in getting the plan in place?
I have never said that I condone how Mr. Murray has been treated, just that I comprehend why some are so irate. I feel empathy for the players on BOTH sides of the issue. You, however show no remorse whatsoever for the ORV user group. Where?s your compassion for your fellow countrymen?
Pick you own adjective if “Figurehead” bothers you so. How about “Face of the CHNSRA“, as that?s what I implied, and the term was not meant to be derogatory, regardless of your spin. I also believe him to be a complete professional, and he has shown great fortitude in staying with this to the bitter end, for which I am very thankful.
Personally, I DO take the DEIS deadly seriously for the reasons you list and more, and I think the majority of folks do. Don?t paint with such a wide brush.
Dapster,
Dennis the menace and the Crotalus think they are better than everyone else. They both choose to focus on the anger of the people of Buxton. They look to belittle people whenever possible to feel better about themselves. They both should focus on why the people are angry instead of Bashing them. The people have a passion for the right to use the beaches of the Cape Hatteras NATIONAL Seashore and have every right to be angry about it being taken away. Simple as that. How did this whole thing get started anyway? Some birdbrain driving like a maniac on the beach? The DEIS should never have been allowed to happen!
Mike own?s this mess now, sorry, its part of the job. He will be known for the man that ruined Hatteras Island. The NPS official that had no back bone and ruined the lives of hundreds of islanders. DEIS is a disgrace and should be thrown out.
Dapster,
Let?s try and stay focused. My original post was on what I considered the behavior of many at the Buxton DEIS meeting. Although you were not in attendance, it appears you condone the bad bahavior of some in attendance at the metting. Sight unseen it is still your right to hold that opinion although I do not concur with you.
I am not going to play the “placing blame” game at this point of the DEIS because it matters not who I or anyone else thinks is to blame. What difference does it make to be so obsessed with who is to blame? Is their jail time involved in who is to blame? Is there public stone throwing, flogging or cow dung throwing involved for the guilty party?
I feel no “empathy” or “remorse” for those who I feel showed bad manners at the Buxton DEIS meeting and I believe those people involved in that action did a disservice to their cause. There were some who stayed on point, presented their thoughts in a orderly manner and displayed respect and common courtesy and for that I felt my time at the Buxton meeting was not completely in vain.
On a personal note, I appreciate people like Crotalus who has taken his share of name calling, attempted bullying and personal attacks and continues to present factual information on many CHNS issues without all the drama and the factual information he presents enlightens this ignorant poster.
?Let’s try and stay focused. My original post was on what I considered the behavior of many at the Buxton DEIS meeting. Although you were not in attendance, it appears you condone the bad bahavior of some in attendance at the metting. Sight unseen it is still your right to hold that opinion although I do not concur with you.?
Speaking of focus?.Was it ?many? or ?some? ? Your above statement is contradictory, maybe you should consider revising it to reflect your meaning.
Thank you!
Dave,
Irene uses the word ?some? and perhaps she was keeping count but I was not. As to the exact number exhibiting behavior unbecoming that was not my interest. I am sure you were in attendance at the Buxton meeting, so perhaps you can give us your take as to when some becomes many.
Thank you for your attention to detail!
Dennis I believe you were asked to revise your statement to reflect YOUR meaning. Instead you as typical turn it around on someone else. As far as when some becomes many? I can only tell you that when I attended the meeting in Hampton The only two people that spoke against access both were admonished by the moderator. So I guess using your math that ALL people against access cannot follow the simple rules given to them. As far as you accusing Dapster of condoning bad behavior you too missed the point. He simply states that when some loses something they care about they tend to be more passionate about it. If someone threatened your livelyhood with something totally out of your control how would you react?
Dennis,
My friends Dave and Samsdad have spoken well on my behalf during my absence, and I totally concur with their sentiments. Thank you both, gentlemen!
However, I will ask you to brush up on your reading comprehension skills, since you accused me of “Condoning such behavior” when I have repeatedly stated that I certainly do NOT. Read back and see for yourself.
Come on back when you?re a bit more alert and totally done gloating.
In the mean time, here?s a NON–YELLING, concise and eloquent response by an island resident for you to read as homework. Perhaps this will open your eyes/mind somewhat, but I seriously doubt it.
http://forum.reddrumtackle.com/showthrea..
Good day and good riddance to you, Sir.
I was the one who called Mr. Murray a warden. More specifically, I said
“by the way Mr. Murray you are not our neighbor, you are our Warden”
If in the passion of the moment I inadvertantly cursed I appologize. As for the statement itself, I do not appologize. When Mr. Murray first got here he changed the tenor by referring to us as nieghbors instead of LIP?s. My husband applauded him. Furthermore, Mr. Murray reiterated the sentiment that we shoudl be treated as neighbors during a meeting just a week or so prior the the release of the DEIS. At the time of the public hearing I was still in shock that a neighbor would propose plan that will have the effect of turning residents into virtual prisoners within thier villages. Based upon this string of events, I stand by my assessment that Mr. Murray has become more of a warden than a neighbor. And trust me the intent of my comment was not lost on either Mr. Murray or any CHAC member.
Now, as for the yelling. If you had been at the CHAC meeting where Jim applauded Mr. Murray for calling us neighbors instead of LIPs, you would have said he was yelling. Quite simply, we are both used to projecting our voices to accomodate large lecture halls without the benefit of a mic. When we get passionate we forget the mic. is there and revert to lecture hall mode.
In this regard I followed immediately after Derb and Chris. My main point was to be that and this plan will result in an untenable negative impact on the quality of life for Island residents. And that this plan was an insult to the good people of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.
My second point, came off the cuff after Derb and Chris fiened support for our way of life. That point was that one and only focus and Derb, Chris and SELC have deomonstrated is to minimize human presence on our Islands. They have demonstrated this through various law suits (including a promise to file suit over the brigde replacement). Worse yet they had just got done making a veiled threat to file suit if NPS doesn?t implement the more restrictive alternative. I virtually begged Mr. Murray to use the $1.5 million dollar annual savings that would accrue from a modified Alternative A to stand up to Derb, Chris and the rest and to protect our way of life. Did I get emtional, you betcha and when I do the lecture voice comes out. If you consider that yelling you are just too sensitive.
Now if anyone would like to see what I plan to say after cooling down and with ample time to express myself here you go.
http://forum.reddrumtackle.com/attachmen..
While not a detailed analysis (it took a whole team of NPS employees and a contractor to write the plan so it is not realistic to expect one person to respond in detail), I make the case for a more balanced approach and support the case with documentation as the original intent of the NPS & DOI and documentation as to the representations made by the government when acquiring the land needed to make this park a reality. I do so in a measured and professional way. This simply is not possible in 3 minutes.
Sorry for the rant. If I accomplished one thing I hope that it is to give some perspective of why emotions run so high on Hatteras Island.
In closing, a substantive, constructive, detailed comment will be forthcoming from the coalition. The only way to construct such a comment is to utilize the resources of a full team of legal advisors, biologists, etc. This does not come cheap so please support OBPA. If you are short on funds, buy some merchandise or buy the new 2011 calendars to give as gifts for birthday or Christmas. http://www.obpa.org
Ginny, some/many?s dislike for the NPS clouded their judgment at the DEIS meeting. Let us not forget that the National Park Service and their employees on the Outer Banks of North Carolina ARE our neighbors. The National Park Services contributes heavily to the economy of our area. NPS employees contribute to community services, spend their salaries and own homes on the Outer Banks.
Because of your screaming, I found it difficult to hear exactly what you were saying, (IMO all that stuff about ?lecture hall mode? falls very short of a valid excuse) but I got the impression that you were making it all personal about Supt. Murray and the National Park Service. You can call it passion, you can call it emotion and you may try and excuse the behavior unbecoming, but as for me it comes down to this, if you really intend to have your opinion(s) valued then you present yourself accordingly.
I would like to comment on your objection to the 3 minutes time limit. There were 68 people signed up to speak and in my calculations that is over 3 hours of speaker time(this does not include the people who despite the 3 minute rule talked past the alloted time). I did make note that into the 2 hour period some/many people had left the auditorium and before the meeting was over some/many more had gone. There were those who after making their comments left, apparently not interested in how others felt about the issue. Enough is enough and the NPS has allowed an adequate time for comment. It is time for the Final EIS to be made.
Dennis, quite frankly I don?t really care what you think. I made to above comment in an effort to appologize to my true neighbors (other residents of Hatteras Island) for cursing. If you are who I think you are?Dennis from bueatiful KDH, you don?t qualify.
Furthermore, if you don?t like the tone of the meetings in Buxton, go to another one or submitt your comments in writing because we residents of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands will not go quietly into the night. Neither will we let, what you call neighbors, put us in a cage for 6 months out of the year and rob us of our livelihood. The money spent by park service employees fails in comparison to our losses. Oh, and the park service does not contract out anything to Island residents.
Crotalus is a snake ? a genus of venomous pitvipers ? rattlesnakes, rattlers.
Dennis ? well ? is a menace (I bet the kids on the playground have been calling him that all of his life ? poor guy).
Seriously though, those of you who are getting sucked in by them into bantering with them ? just stop. They will hate it and maybe they will go away.
Good grief ? I am sick to my stomach just reading these two guys posts. I just know that if I met either one of them in person they would be the most annoying, pompous, self-important argumentative guys around (same as they are here posting). The kind of guys that think they are just a little more intelligent than anyone else (and they are not). The kind of guys that have absolutely no empathy or understanding for anyone but themselves. The kind of guys that make snotty comments and go against the grain no matter what topic they are talking about or who they are talking to. Just miserable people that nobody wants to play with now or on the school ground.
Ignore them and hopefully they will go away.
Can?t stand those guys.
My family has traveled to the Outer Banks for years. Closing these beaches will not only devistage the locals, but also those of us who look forward to our trips (3) each and every year! We fish, boat & just enjoy the natural beauty of the Banks. Please, KEEP OUR BEACHES OPEN!!! Our grandson had his 1st trip, & we are looking forward to raising him at the Banks as we did our children.