UPDATE: Two meetings planned on Buxton beach restoration study

The National Park Service and Dare County will host two open-house style meetings on Jan. 27 in Manteo and Jan. 28 in Buxton to get input from the public on the county’s plan to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)  on beach nourishment in north Buxton.

Dare County has asked the Park Service for a special use permit to pump sand onto the eroding beaches in the area to protect Highway 12. In order to do that, the county needs — and has requested — a special use permit from NPS.

The DEIS will assist the agency in determining whether, where, and under what conditions it will issue the permit.

The National Park Service published its notice of intent to prepare the draft EIS in the Federal Register on Dec. 29, which started the public scoping process.

“This Notice of Intent is an important step in moving forward the request from Dare County government for a Special Use Permit needed for related activities that may be necessary for the protection of Highway 12 in the Buxton area of Hatteras Island,” said Superintendent Dave Hallac said today in a news release.  “We know there is extensive interest in this issue and we encourage the public to comment on this proposal.” 

The release also stated, “Park management staff are working closely with Dare County officials to ensure the NPS’s portion of the environmental review is completed in a timely manner.”

NPS says the public open houses are to further discuss the proposed activities, the planning process and environmental analysis, and acquire the public’s thoughts and ideas about the proposed activities. 

The meetings will be:

Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Dare County Government Offices, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, First Floor, Room 168, in Manteo.

Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Fessenden Center Activity Room on Highway 12 in Buxton.

Comments can be submitted electronically at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/caha or in writing to the Superintendent, Outer Banks Group, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC  27954.  Written comments will be accepted when postmarked no later than Feb. 27, and electronic comments can be entered until midnight (ET) on Feb. 27.  No fax or email comments will be accepted. 

More information, including the purpose and need for this planning process, can be found at http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/caha.