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2009 One Mile Paddle Race!
Click here for more information...
OffShore Drilling, Not the Answer
The proposed new MMS 5-Year Oil Lease plan is just plain scary. This plan was drawn up by the Bush Administration in their waning hours and is now the responsibility of Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
There are 4 hearings coming up in April to hear from the public on this proposed plan. We should voice our opposition loudly!
For more information, please click here.
Individual Petition:
For individuals concerned about Offshore Oil Drilling off NC Coasts,
no matter where you live. |
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Coastal NC Business Petition:
For Dare, Hyde or Currituck County Businesses only. |
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Save access to Cape Hatteras Surf Breaks!
The National Park Service is currently developing a long-term plan for ORV (off-road-vehicle) and pedestrian access inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Let them know, when making decisions, to remember Cape Hatteras' unparalleled role as the most popular and influential surfing region on the whole East Coast - and therefore the US - with a high priority on access to the most treasured breaks. Also demand they look for a wide range of solutions besides closures; ones that benefit the animal species while guaranteeing humans can continue to enjoy and protect this most-precious coastal resource for years to come.
Sign the Petition! Take Action! Click here!
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Press Release - April 17, 2008
Proposed Settlement For ORV Use Filed Following Agreement From Parties
A consent decree that outlines temporary rules for off road vehicle (ORV) use in Cape Hatteras National Recreational Seashore has been agreed to by Dare County, Hyde County, the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance (CHAPA), and the other parties, and has now been filed with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The document was filed electronically at approximately 6:00 p.m last evening. The agreement will not create a precedent that will impact the ongoing negotiations between stakeholders to develop a permanent ORV management plan for the Seashore which is scheduled to be completed by the year 2011.
The agreement will be considered by Judge Terrence Boyle who on April 4 continued the hearing on ORV use to allow the parties involved time to work together to create a plan to protect the interests of all involved. A date for the next hearing has not been scheduled.
Dare County, along with Hyde County and the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance, are Defendant Intervenors in the lawsuit and have worked to preserve access for vehicles and pedestrians in the Seashore. CHAPA held a special meeting this week to consider the proposal and voted to support the agreement. Both the Dare County Board of Commissioners and the Hyde County Board of Commissioners held special meetings today and voted to support the agreement.
Dare County, Hyde County and CHAPA recognize the importance of the heritage and culture of access to the Cape Hatteras National Recreational Seashore. The elected officials of Dare and Hyde Counties, and the representatives of CHAPA have worked around the clock to try to protect the resources of the Park, and the lives and welfare of all the residents of Dare and Hyde Counties.
"Access to our beaches is an essential part of our heritage and an important aspect of our local economy," said Warren Judge, Chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners. "Dare County has always supported -- and will continue to support -- open access to our beaches for the many traditional uses enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. We all must continue to work together for the next two years to achieve a lasting ORV management plan that will protect both the wildlife and the lives of the people who live and visit Dare and Hyde Counties and the Cape Hatteras National Recreational Seashore."
Allen Burrus, Vice Chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, lives and works on Hatteras Island. "Am I happy with this plan? No," said Burrus, "but at least it allows opportunities for access to our beaches and keeps local businesses operating."
New deal would allow beach driving
By Javier Serna, Staff Writer The News & Observer
The Outer Banks Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation recognizes the unique ecological, recreational and economic value of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. We further recognize that beaches are a public resource and should be held in the public trust for their preservation. We understand that for decades the Park Service has allowed access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches by Off Road Vehicles (ORV) with minimal restriction or oversight and that if not regulated correctly ORV use may detrimentally affect migratory species that nest in the area. The Outer Banks Chapter supports beach preservation and protection efforts, but feel that a temporary and or permanent ban on ORV access to these beaches could have an immediate detrimental impact on the Outer Banks economy, and severely limit public access to groups that appreciate, use, and support the protection of these coastal resources. We believe that a balance between access and preservation can be achieved.
It is difficult for one that has not spent significant time on the Outer Banks to consider how limited access to beaches would become without ORV use, access that is the very reason that people from all over the world come to the Outer Banks to visit. In our small community where much of the oceanfront has been developed by homes, this small stretch of National Park is truly one of the last protected places to enjoy the unique resources on Hatteras Island. Hatteras Island offers world class surfing and fishing, much of which can be attributed to its remote location that is accessible only by ORV's. At this time the Outer Banks Chapter of Surfrider Foundation believes that allowing continued access with improved management of ORV use to the National Seashore is the optimal solution for this area.
The Outer Banks Chapter implores all parties involved in this issue to find a balance between access, protection and preservation. We recommend managing access of these areas through a combination of permitting, limiting the number of vehicles, and closures when necessary to protect the migratory species that use this area seasonally. The Outer Banks Chapter of Surfrider Foundation supports protection and preservation, and in this unique situation does support the reasonable use of ORVs to allow public access to this area.
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Surfrider Foundation
Outer Banks, North Carolina Chapter
Founded in 1984, Surfrider's most important coastal environmental work is carried out by 57 chapters located along the East, West, Gulf, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian coasts.
 Surfrider now has over 30,000 members in the USA; in addition, International Surfrider chapters and affiliates have been established in the countries of Japan, Brazil, Australia, France and Spain.
 The Surfrider Outer Banks Chapter is made up of volunteers just like you. If you live or go to the beaches in our area, please contact us, come to our next general meeting, and get involved with our Chapter's activities. |
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