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OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The stated
purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on
conservation of marine resources. The objective of CCA is
to conserve, promote and enhance the present and future
availability of these coastal resources for the benefit and
enjoyment of the general public.
| CCA Supports Legislation for Hatteras Island Access |
CCA Supports Legislation for Hatteras Island Access
Raleigh, NC-The Coastal Conservation Association North Carolina believes all people should have reasonable access to public lands and waters to pursue the sport of fishing by both boaters and shore based anglers whether walking or in off road vehicles (ORVs). CCA NC supports the introduction of legislation (S.3113 and H.R. 6233) that would allow the access of ORV traffic on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area (CHNSRA) was established over 50 years ago with the expressed intent of the Congress and the National Park Service to allow the public access to beach recreational opportunities. This park was uniquely and explicitly set aside as a recreation area.
Recently, a few well financed, private organizations, namely the Audubon Society, the Defenders of Wildlife and the Southern Environmental Law Center have taken away the rights and privileges of the users of the CHNSRA under the guise of protecting birds and turtles. They have specifically targeted fishermen, vacationing families and pedestrian beach goers who use four wheel drive vehicles to deny their access to the best beaches and surf fishing locations on the East coast. They have not done this through an open, public participatory process but through an egregious lawsuit and closed door legal maneuvering.
To remedy this situation, CCA NC is asking its membership to support the bill Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) have introduced in the U. S. Senate (S.3113) that would reinstate the interim ORV management plan that was previously put in place by the National Park Service (NPS). Representative Walter Jones (R-NC) has introduced a similar bill in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 6233). These bills provide species protection consistent with the Endangered Species-Act. The enactment of these bills will return the management of ORVs in CHNSRA to the professionals in the NPS.
"It is time that we stand up to those who choose to take away our access to the CHNSRA by intimidation, lawsuit and misinformation" said CCA Chairman Bill Mandulak. "We need to return the management of CHNSRA to the professional and competent National Park Staff using the policies established under the interim ORV management plan" continued Mandulak.
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| 16 Jun 2008 - 10:56 by CCA North Carolina |
XNews
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