Comment Period on OBX Beach Closures Ends Soon

The public comment regarding the closure of N.C.’s national seashore beaches ends soon. See the story for directions to send comments via the Internet.

Ollie Jarvis of Dillon’s Corner tackle shop in Buxton said June 13 that one Buxton’s business had declined 70 percent so far this year because of the beach closures at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Jarvis said Dillon’s Corner business had declined 65 percent and store traffic has slowed down significantly.

“One fellow said he was here by himself this year,” Jarvis said. “His five buddies cancelled (their trip to the Outer Banks) when they found out they couldn’t drive the beach they have fished for many years.”

Jarvis also reported N.C. recreational saltwater fishing license sales had declined at Dillon’s Corner.

“Last year we took in $24,000 in license fees through the end of May, and this year at the end of May we booked just $11,000,” he said.

Three days remain for the public to submit comments to the federal government regarding the beach closures created by a consent decree of federal district court Judge Terrence Boyle in Raleigh during early May. Boyle’s decision ended a threatened lawsuit by Defenders of Wildlife and the Audubon Society that might have closed all CHNS beaches to ORV and pedestrian traffic. The two groups claim threatened shorebirds use some beaches for nesting and sea turtles also crawl ashore at night to lay eggs.

Critics have said Defenders of Wildlife and Aububon violated an agreement to forego lawsuits while they participated in a negotiated settlement process. Others have pointed out little public comment before large sections of OBX public beaches, established by the creation of the national seashore, were closed. Some critics have noted no other public-use areas have been put off limits when “threatened” species were present; that restriction in the past has been reserved only for endangered species.

N.C. senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr, along with U.S. Congressman Walter Jones, submitted bills in Congress June 11 that would re-establish the Interim Management Plan used by the National Park Service that permitted beach driving and pedestrian access, with certain restrictions, until a final management plan can be crafted.

Readers who wish to comment to the federal government may go to http://www.regulations.gov, type in E8-10887 in the “Comment” or “Submission,” click on that box and type comments. Once finished hit the “Submit” button.