On Saturday night April 9, 2005 Superintendent Larry Belli and Public Affairs officer Mary Doll of the N P S gave a talk on the ORV Management Plan Negotiated Rule Making development process. After their presentation and a question and answer session, a real bomb was dropped by Supt. Belli.
He stated that NPS is in negotiations with USF&W Ecological Services office in Raleigh regarding Piping Plover enclosures for this year. Supt. Belli said he had proposed a plan to close off Oregon, Hatteras and Ocracoke Inlets and the Point except for a 150 foot corridor that would extend around ocean and sound sides. USF&W rejected this offer. The current NPS proposal is for an 80 foot corridor only on the ocean side and closing off the sound side of all inlets and the “hook” at the point from the small ephemeral pond around to the first interdunal road (click here for a maps of the proposed closures). Even this proposal may be rejected by USF&W. Basically, these proposed closures will start at the southern jost point of the Bodie Island Spit (North side of Oregon Inlet) and the southern or western jost point of Hatteras and Ocracoke Inlets and wrap around to include the sound sides leaving only the ocean side corridor open for public use. It was not stated whether there were Piping Plovers now in these areas. These closures will be off limits to all activities, including but not limited to cast netting, flounder fishing or walking above the low tide line and could last until August 31st. Furthermore, these closures could be expanded if Piping Plovers nest and have chicks or possibly if there is evidence of humans, dogs, kites or vehicles having entered the enclosed areas.
Just as an added note, the aerial photos of the Point that are being used in these negotiations to show USF&W what is here were taken in 1996, photos of Hatteras Inlet and the washover area were taken in late September 2003 (within 12 days of Hurricane Isabel’s landfall), no date is identifiable for the Oregon Inlet photo, but it does not appear to be recent and a hand drawn map is being used for Ocracoke Inlet. As we all know, the land mass has grown considerably and changed in the last two years, let alone the last ten years.
These discussions with USF&W were referred to as Section 7 consultations, whatever that means. This, in essence, allows NPS to throw up their hands and say “we did the best we could but USF&W made us do it”.
The stated reason for all this is that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore has experienced a decline in nesting Piping Plovers while all other areas are showing increases and thus the habitat (i.e. these four areas) must be made more available to the birds.
Apparently the historical and traditional use, economic impact, potential overcrowding and Congress’s intent for this to be a Recreational Park play absolutely no part in this process, let alone providing outdated photos which grossly distort the amount of land within the proposed closures.
What can you do? Call all of the following NOW!!!
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Superintendent Larry Belli – 252-473-2111 ex 150 |
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Dare County Commissioners Chair Stan White- 441-6911(H), 441-1515(W) or your Commissioner |
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State Senator Mark Basnight – 252-473-3474(Manteo), 919-722-6854 (Raleigh) |
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State Representative William Culpeper III (Dare & Hyde Co.) 919-715-3028 (Raleigh), 252-482-2175 (Edenton) |
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Senator Elizabeth Dole – 252-329-1093 (Greenville), 202-224-6342 (Washington) |
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Senator Richard Burr – 800-685-8916(Winston Salem), 202-224-3154 (Washington), Member of Subcommittee on National Parks |
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Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. – 800-351-1697(NC Residents only), 252-931-1003 (Greenville), 202-225-3415 (Washington) |
You must act now before things get set!