The issue of Off-road vehicles on Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been a hot topic lately. Check out the April 14th blog about it. Well, the time has come and a ruling has been handed down on the matter by Judge Terrence Boyle.
This past Wednesday, April 30, 2008, Judge Boyle ruled to accept the proposed consent decree that places limitations on ORV access and beach driving on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The consent decree was proposed to the judge by attorneys from both sides of the issue. The proposal was a compromise between the two parties.
By accepting the consent decree; the lawsuit brought forth by two environmental groups against the National Parks Service has been dropped. The decree is not a long term plan and states that a long term off-road vehicle plan must be implemented by April of 2011. The National Parks Service along with Dare and Hyde counties argued that closing the beaches will have a negative local economic impact while the 2 environmental groups argued that the National Parks Service was not doing enough to protect the birds, sea turtles, and other natural resources from the impact off ORV’s on the beach.
The interim ORV management plan calls for the National Parks Service to take prompt action to deal with the diminishing populations of nesting shorebirds and water birds, provide proper protection to the threatened piping plover and provide additional protection to the various species of sea turtles. The proposal also called for public education of beach driving and the protection of local resources while still providing the opportunity for ORV’s and pedestrian access to the beach.
It seems like this ruling found some middle ground on the issue that should help both sides to keep working together toward a more permanent solution. At least for now locals and tourists will still be able to enjoy off-roading on the beach, but will do so with more caution and restrictions. We’ll keep you updated on any pertinent information.
Labels: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, National Parks Service
posted by Blog Administrator @ 11:46 AM
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