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Hatteras access bill set for Senate hearing today
Sam Walker | June 27, 2012
Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Warren Judge is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon in support of the Senate’s version of a bill to revert to previous rules governing beach access in Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The Senate’s National Parks Subcommittee meets at 3 p.m. to debate S.B. 2372, introduced by both Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican Sen. Richard Burr.
Click here to watch the hearing »
A similar measure passed the U.S. House earlier this month, but is facing opposition from President Obama.
See what people are saying:
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bill weaver says:
I support this measure to return our beaches to us, the tax-paying, recreational users. We should not be turned away from our beloved beaches. They are there for everyone to enjoy. If you ever get the opportunity to make the trip to Cape Hatteras National Seashore and drive out on the beach you will certainly become addicted to the serenity that it brings to your soul. Thank you, Bill Weaver
Rocky Mount, NC
Ray Midgett says:
Will Warren Judge be “under oath” when he testifies?
nags head bob says:
Come on Bill. Don’t you realize how greedy you sound. Those beaches arn’t for us, they are only for turtles and defective birds that nest in footprints below the high tide line. Even the foxes and racoons arn’t allow to use the beaches.
charlie says:
Watched it. Warren did a good job. I sent an email thank you to Sen Manchin of WV. He was there and helpful to us.
kdh res says:
Funny how a Currituck golf cource was allowed relocate hundreds of canadian geese that took up residency so they didnt damage the golf cource or interupt play…..maybe they should have been made to stop using the golf cource.
ksw says:
Just watched the hearing. Dare Co. Commissioner Warren Judge was excellent. It is such a ridiculous play on words that the interest groups play with the open beach miles that they quote. I think Warren was able to put things in perspective and he had the last word which backfired on Derb. Carter Atty. for eco groups gone to the extreme. I have a second home in Avon and just came back from there and I can tell you first hand there are only a few miles of beach actually open because of closures. Praying this bi-partisan bill will pass in the senate and bring back some common sense for the Hatteras Island beach access issues that are devastating the local stewards of those lands and economy there.
Pat Avon says:
By the way they closed ramp 34 to walkers today.. roped off the walkway..closed!!! now no public access at all at the end of Avon..unless you walk through the brush..and cross the dunes..with no path..this is nuts…open just in front of village…for now..and a little at the other end…I hope they do something soon…
kdh resident says:
Hey every May or around that time the Box Turtles start to cross all our roads in their migration…..Lets close the roads too. Stop all traffic!
OBX Yard Bird says:
This went party line in the US House. Republicans for it and Democrats against. The same will happen in the Senate but there are more Democrats so it won’t pass. Obama Admin has already spoken out against it so he will veto it if it ever hits his desk. I’m worried…
kdh resident says:
I keep seeing deer, fox and squirles etc. dead in the road. Likely cause….over population! So insted of towns spending 90k on new planning positions (building and developement) stop building and developement so these poor animals have a little bit of woods to live in!!!
If ya pay attention the deer and fox look very malnurished, lets pour more concrete, build more houses, make more roads, cut down trees, distroy natural habitats.
Those of us who use the Hatteras beaches dont want to change or distroy anything, we just want to use, share and enjoy it.
Nags Head Bob says:
You don’t see many dead foxes or raccoons on hwy 12. The NPS has a predator management plan where they just trap and kill them. But OBV doesn’t print that. Can’t have the birds get eaten by natural predators, they wouldn’t have any excuse to keep the beaches closed.
hatrasfevr says:
The dots at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area are now connected:
Eliminate the vehicles and nesting increases.
Eliminate the people and nesting increases.
Eliminate the dogs and nesting increases.
Eliminate the kites and nesting increases.
Walk only in the water and nesting increases.
Kill all the predators (animals and birds) and nesting increases.
Hey, if the weather helps us out, nesting increases.
Now lets charge a nice permit fee ($120/calendar year- $50/week) and make it inconvenient to obtain (In person only at 3 locations 50 miles apart) and maybe that will help complicate things more.
Do it all at the same time and nobody can say what really caused anything. Not that it matters.
ksw says:
So … it’s the senate democrats that we need to focus on rattling their chains then? Contact all senate democrats personally by phone, by email, their websites, by mail.
ksw
bbc says:
can’t wait to see the ‘explaination’ why the plover count is way down on hatteras and ocracoke island this spring/summer. no big weather events, no cars, no people, no predators, no kites………
bbc says:
stupid fingers….’explanation’
Buxton Resident says:
Since there is a preemptive VETO coming from the president’s desk, I wonder how much SELC contributed to the Obama campaign…
Candyfrisco says:
I have been coming to Hatteras Island for many years since I was a child. I now bring my own children. I have been to many beaches around the world, but this is still my very favorite place in the world. I see this waning of rights to responsibly use this GOD given gift as a parallel to what is happening in our American society today and more so around the world. I agree with others that the money charged does not equal better protection to these fragile areas at all. We already pay taxes to support the NPS and others to DO their job. So what is them money going to?? Their should have NEVER been one option or the other. Either pay what I think is unreasonable or CLOSE UP SHOP!! Really people!! And, kind of tired of hearing just park your vehicle and walk over. NOT where I go you could not do this reasonably especially with small children and thunderstorm risk. Just because some people are happy with walk over access does not mean the rest of us are. If I want to do this there are many, many other options much nearer to my home in MD. This is part of the beauty and attraction to the area. Being able to see Cape Point is awesome. We do own property there and will have to suck it up and pay but this should not stand.