Don't Water Down Beach Driving Regulations that Protect Hatteras Seashore Wildlife
- by: Susan V
- recipient: Cape Hatteras National Seashore/Outer Banks Group
The National Park Service’s off-road vehicle management plan (OVM) for the Hatteras Island National Seashore has been good for sea turtles and shorebirds and tourism as well. So why is NPS even thinking about modifying that plan?
According to Southern Environmental Law Center. shorebirds and rare sea turtles that nest on Hatteras beaches have rebounded since the 2008 temporary plan was enacted, whereas before then, numbers of piping plovers were “at an all time low."
That 2008 plan for seasonal protections, agreed to “by all parties,” came about after a multi-year long process involving comments “from thousands of Americans,” says SELC. And the more finalized regulations implemented in 2012 still allowed driving on most of the seashore’s beaches, adds Audubon, North Carolina .
Nevertheless, reports Audubon, the Park Service is now considering “modifying morning opening of beaches, extending the length of fall and spring seasonal ORV route, plus modifying the size and location of vehicle-free areas,” in the absence of solid science to support such changes.
NPS has an obligation to act as responsible stewards for this habitat. Any changes to beach driving policy must be supported by credible peer-reviewed scientific studies demonstrating that native birds and other wildlife will NOT be impacted negatively by proposed changes.
Sign this petition to insist that the National Park Service protect seashore wildlife from off-road vehicle driving.
We, the undersigned, agree that the National Park Service has an obligation to protect the natural habitat of the Cape Hatteras Seashore.
Audubon, North Carolina is concerned that NPS is now being pressured by local “special interest groups” to consider watering down the “reasonable, rational and balanced off-road vehicle regulation implemented in 2012.”
Not only are bait and tackle business owners complaining about how the regulations affect their profits, but the NPS makes millions off of selling licenses to drive on the beach, reports Raleigh’s News and Observer
However, even though opponents of OVD restrictions claim the reason the area was designated as a National Park was for the enjoyment of people, the N&O sets the record straight by citing the 1937 legislation stating that:
…except for certain portions deemed “especially adaptable for recreational uses,” the area “shall be permanently reserved as a primitive wilderness and no development of the project or plan for the convenience of visitors shall be undertaken which would be incompatible with the preservation of the unique flora and fauna or the physiographic conditions now prevailing in this area.”
Another N&O piece by the paper’s Editorial Board notes that the regulations in place are already “lax,” and just last June, “the park service reduced protected areas for wildlife.”
As the Audubon report notes, there is plenty of opportunity on the seashore's beaches for off-road vehicle driving, and there simply is not any solid science to support watering down the protections that were put in place in 2008 and 2012. Based on reputable reports, the regulations have produced good results for those visiting the seashore - for the local economy and for wildlife.
We join Audobon and Southern Environmental Law Center in insisting the National Park Service cease any further actions that could adversely affect the wildlife on Hatteras seashores, without the backing of solid scientific research to support such actions.
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