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Comments for ORV Rule Changes End 3/18

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Subject:  Comments on NPS Environmental
Assessment (EA) for Consideration of Modifications to the Final ORV Rule

 

 

 

To All CHAC Members

 

We  only have until
this coming Friday, March 18, to make our comments to the National Park Service
regarding the modifications to the ORV rule currently in effect at Cape
Hatteras National Seashore.

 

Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance (CHAPA) and Outer
Banks Preservation Association (OBPA) have prepared comments upon which you can
base your comments.  For a full explanation of CHAPA’s comments go to http://obpa.org/ to read the letter that CHAPA sent
to the Park Service on March 8 and for a discussion of the issues
involved.  A table summarizing the NPS Alternatives and CHAPA’s proposals
follows this letter.

 

It’s important that you personalize your comments letter to
the NPS so that it doesn’t read like a form letter.  Larry Hardham, CHAC
president, urges you to submit your comments stating specifically what changes
you want to see, why you want them and why you think the changes are
appropriate.

 

Click here to open of download CHAPA’s
Comments on EA.

Click here to open or download the
entire EA in pdf format.

Click here to submit
comments electronically. 
(Select the “Open for Comment” link to view and comment on the EA.)

 

or,

Comments can also be mailed to:

Superintendent,
Cape Hatteras National Seashore

1401 National
Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954. 

 

 

  Again, your comments must be entered on-line or
postmarked sent no later than March 18.

 

 

 

Cape Hatteras Anglers Club

 

 

 

Special Permitt Issued for Beach Nourishment in Buxton

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National Park
Service News
Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  DATE: June
17, 2015

CONTACT: Cyndy M. Holda, Public Affairs Specialist,
252-475-9034252-475-9034 or 252-473-2111252-473-2111

 

Federal
Register Notice Published for EA on Issuance of Special Use Permit to Local
Government for Beach Nourishment Project

 

Manteo, NC – The National Park Service (NPS) has
announced in the Federal Register, published on June 17, 2015, the intent to
prepare an environmental assessment (EA) instead of an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to evaluate Dare County’s application for a special use permit
for the purpose of beach nourishment activities in the Buxton area of Cape
Hatteras National Seashore.

 

Dare County plans
to request a separate Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the associated dredge and fill activities needed
to accomplish the proposed beach nourishment activities.  After public scoping and a preliminary impact
analysis was completed over the winter months, the NPS decided to further
streamline this process, and will be collaborating with the USACE to produce a
single combined Environmental Assessment to assist the agencies in determining
whether, where and under what conditions the NPS and USACE would issue permits
to Dare County.  Combining regulatory
compliance efforts will be more efficient for all agencies involved and the
public’s review of the proposed action.  The
USACE is now the lead federal agency responsible for preparing the EA
consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act.

 

For more
information, contact Dennis Brookie, Project Manager for the National Park
Service at 303-969-2493303-969-2493 or Raleigh Bland, Project Manager with the USACE at 910-251-4564910-251-4564.  Information may also be found on the park’s
PEPC website at:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=55120.

________________________________________________________________________

 

National Park Service has released its plan to modify wildlife buffers

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The National Park Service has approved a plan to modify
wildlife protection buffers at Cape Hatteras National Seashore as authorized by
Congress at the end of 2015.  The plan was released to the public yesterday,
Tuesday, June 16.

 

Click here for selected portions of the 82-page plan.  The full document
can be accessed at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=358&projectID=56762&documentID=66763

Later this summer, the Seashore will begin a public process
to consider modifications to the final rule on off-road vehicle
management.

 

Neither CHAC nor NCBBA,
OBPA or CHAPA fully support the published plan and will comment at a later time.
We suggest that you read and familiarize yourselves with the rules that will be
implemented.

 

 

ORV Plan & Changes to come

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How does the saying
go?  It only takes an act of Congress, well that’s exactly what we
managed to get thanks to CHAPA, OBPA, our members and everyone who
raised their voices.  Shortly thereafter CHAPA sent a letter with
recommendations regarding the new law–click here to view CHAPA’s recommendation.

 

Also, the NPS
released a plan to satisfy the new law’s requirements.  Click on the
following links to view the NPS plan and CHAPA’s comments on the NPS
plan.

NPS Plan

CHAPA comment on NPS Plan

H.R. 4094 Hearing

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The following links are available at the OBPA website

 ·        Hearing Video
 ·        John’s Written Testimony
 ·        Warren’s Written Testimony
 ·        Comparison of Interim Plan, Consent Decree, Rule
  ·        Graph/ line map of 4.25.2012 closures

Nesting Shorebirds–A Cost Benefit Analysis

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A document titled "Nesting Shorebirds–A Cost/Benefit Analysis" has been posted on the Island Free Press (www.islandfreepress.org).  This document was written by one of our members (Virginia Luizer ) as a possible submission to the OBPA newsletter.  It was also submitted as a comment for the DEIS.  More recently, Mrs. Luizer sent this document to Representative Walter Jones along with as proof " that the NPS approach to balancing recreation with resource protection has been a abject failure and has cost the local community dearly."  Furthermore, Mrs. Luizer asked that Mr. Jones circulate the document and use it to garner the support you need to get H.R. 4094, Restore Access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area.

 

In this regard, Mrs. Luizer has given us this document to post (Nesting Shorebirds–A Cost Benefit Analysis)  for anyone who wishes to use it.  Feel free to save it, attach it to letters, or just use parts of it to make points in letters you choose to write.

 

We need to counter the misrepresentations made by SELC, et al, the park service, and the DOI as they will appear before subcommittees claiming that the Consent Decree has been a resounding success.

 

Ask Your Congressmand to Co-sponsor H.R. 4094

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As you know, Congressman Walter B. Jones has introduced House Bill 4094 titled “Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act”.  This Bill will give us some relief here at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (CHNSRA).  The Bill has a far better chance of success if it has multiple co-sponsors.  With this in mind, we request that you hand-write a letter pleading your Congressman to become a co-sponsor of House Bill 4094.  Obviously, if you live in Walter B. Jones’ congressional district, you do not need to send him a letter requesting he co-sponsor House Bill 4094.  Congressman Wittman of Virginia and Congresswoman Elmers of North Carolina are already Co-sponsors so they do not need letters.  If you live in North Carolina or Virginia you can find your Congressman’s address on the attached listings or by going to www.house.gov , or calling 1-202-224-3121.  Co-sponsors are needed from every state, so please write to your Congressman as soon as possible.
    
Click here for letters to mail to each Congressman/Congresswoman on the two subcommittees where House Bill 4094 is currently under consideration. 

There are 33 letters.  You can get a SMALL FLAT RATE BOX from your post office and mail all of the letters, in individual envelopes, in the flat rate box and mail to Congressman Jones for $5.35 and his office members will see to it that the envelopes are distributed.  You should use a small mailing envelope–fold the letter in half, then in thirds to fit into the envelope.  We tried it and it works good.  This is much better and we will be sure they will get to the right people.
Thank you for all of your help.  Hopefully, together, we will make a difference.

Also enclosed is information for a letter to be written, by you, to your Congressman/ Congresswoman requesting his/her becoming a Co-sponsor of House Bill 4094.

Public Scoping Period Opens for the Proposed Infrastructure Improvements at Cape Hatteras National S

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      National Park Service News Release          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  DATE:   March 1, 2012          CONTACT: Public Affairs Specialist, 252-473-2111, ext. 148           Public Scoping Period Opens for the Proposed Infrastructure Improvements at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Mike Murray announced today the National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on proposed infrastructure improvement projects identified in the final Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Management Plan that would facilitate visitor access to key recreational areas while providing resource protection to wildlife and plants within Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore.)  The NPS is preparing an Environmental Assessment for the proposed construction of parking lots, pedestrian access points and accessible boardwalks, and unpaved interdunal roads and beach access ramps for ORVs at various locations in the Seashore.  At this time, NPS is announcing a 30-day public scoping period to solicit comments on social, cultural, and natural resource issues and concerns associated with the development of various sites prior to the Seashore completing its analysis of the proposal.  The public scoping period opens March 1, 2012 and closes March 31, 2012.  The 30-day public scoping period is part of the process to prepare an Environmental Assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.   Written comments may be submitted through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/caha.  Select the “Proposal to Construct New Development that Facilitates Public Access” link to view the scoping documents.  Comments can also be mailed to: Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC  27954.  To ensure your comments are included in this process, they must be entered into PEPC or postmarked by March 31, 2012.  Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any other way than those specified above.  Bulk comments in hard copy or electronic formats submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.   For more information, see attached newsletter or contact Randy Swilling, NPS Natural Resource Manager, at (252) 473-2111 x 135.  -NPS-