The Battle Over a North Carolina Beach Continues
Comments
Right, the OBPA sued for big
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2012/09/12 - 12:29pm.
Right, the OBPA sued for big bucks. They're raking in the cash, not. You morons just don't get it, these new policies have gone to far, are not based on sound science, and poorly developed. No one is saying remove the policies or regulations, but make them not so extreme. There is LARGE group of Americans, (and your reading all their complaints) they routinely visit CHNSRA that have experienced the new policies and are not happy about it. They know that it did not have to be this extreme to provide adequate species protections. They know the NPS went to far with the "pedestrian only areas" that are really used as access control tool. They don't think the thousands of new "NO" signs are necessary and take away from the beauty of HI. They now see the NPS made these policies to achieve Audubon and DOI's agenda to remove people Hatteras. AND they will not give up easily.
More right wing conspiracy theories
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2012/09/13 - 12:10pm.
"They now see the NPS made these policies to achieve Audubon and DOI's agenda to remove people Hatteras."
Amazing you ORVers just cant step out of character, just have to come up with some tea party right wing conspiracy theory, just like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
I don't have a clue how much money the OBPA, NCBBA, CHAC have gathered and how much other organizations have contributed because it is not easily accessible. I know Dare County commissioners co-signed with the legal proceedings and have already used a bunch of my tax money in legal fees and that really pisses me off. Any day now I expect some county car to come down highway 12 with one of those huge third world speakers telling everyone to call their congressmen and sign a petition condemning the NPS, or else!
If the regs are rescinded it won't be just the wildlife that will suffer. The shoulder seasons for vehicle free areas in front of the villages will be shrunk back to 4 months and there will be no vehicle free areas in the Park during the other 8 months. The reason why pedestrians can't access a good part of the shoreline during nesting season now is because the powerful local organizations (NCBBA, CHAC, OBPA) want it that way. They were and still are afraid that if people get used to walking (like they did when the park was opened) that beach driving soon won't be an issue for visitors. Even with the ugly signs and stupid restrictions that keep pedestrians from walking the tideline to get around closed resource areas, visitors to the park are still coming and by all appearances telling their friends what a great place CHNS.
You don't have to drive a car on the beach to engage in recreational activities in this park. The entire shoreline of PINWR is a perfect example of that, easily accessed by foot with literally 100's of people doing that on a daily basis. There are some places in CHNS where walking is difficult (couple of miles) (but fine for the fit). None of the environmental organizations (Audubon or Defenders) sought or stated they wanted all beach driving in the park stopped. The ORV access organizations have always been the side that won't cooperate or compromise. The bill before congress is a perfect example of that.
Your right the OBPA lawyers got a big check from the goverment when they won the first critical habitat lawsuit, not the OBPA.
The whining lying BS
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2012/09/12 - 11:03am.
The whining lying BS that these people spew is beyond reproach. On their 24/7 dedicated local radio propaganda loop they actually state that the main reason Audubon and Defenders sued the government (and won) was so the environmental lawyers could bill the government to make big bucks. This is hypocritical because the wreckrecreational ORVers did exactly the same thing (and got paid for it from the government) when they sued over critical habitat. It is as if they tore a page out of a National Socialist German Workers' Party propaganda manual.
The local tackle shop and ORV message boards, national ORV and fishing associations and blogs are telling their readers exactly who to write in congress. Their members are retelling congress all lies and misinformation to get the final rule ( ORV regs) rescinded. Then they can go about the business of turning the National Seashore back into their own ORV Recreational Beach Club.
LOL. Well this is certainly
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2012/09/28 - 8:51am.
LOL. Well this is certainly the pot calling the kettle black. OF COURSE THEY ARE. And this is also exactly what the NAS and the DOW do. They send out "urgent need!" mass postings giving their readers and anyone who happens to stumble across it on the internet, the exact words to use or copy to send to every politician. All froups, pro or con, on all issues use this method.
Before you chastise the ORV groups for doing something you should really look in the mirror. We learned from the best!
Cape Hatteras/ORV
Submitted by Cathy (not verified) on Wed, 2012/09/12 - 9:43am.
I live in Delaware where our national seashore park works for both the wildlife and ORV's. Our Piping Plover nesting area is closed during their nesting period and then re-opened later. None of the ORV fishermen have ever complained because no matter where they put their poles in the water, there is always a great time to be had. Delaware also requires a special license plate (paid) yearly. They also must be actively involved in Surf Fishing, if not the park patrol can, and does issue citations, revoke your surf tag and removal from the beach. Come see what a success Delaware is.
more praise for Audubon
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2012/09/11 - 11:59am.
The reason we are in this mess on Hatteras Island is bevause for ghe last 40+ years the Park Service did not produce an Orv plan and the locals thought they owned the land and could do what they wanted. When any type of minimal protections were enforced, the bullying, name calling, and atta ks of NPS personnel ensued. This type of behavior allowed for further bullying mentality, which is now the norm here. Audubon is not lying, not making up numbers. All fa ts are science based and accepted by the rest of the modern, educated world, just the followers that are being brainwashed by the handful of ego maniacal bullies are the ones who say Audubon is lying.
Those that believe the pro ORV access rhetoric will not change their minds because they have been led to believe that this issue is the cause of their problems. When daga is provided that they are wrong, they defend by accusing Audubon od lying. Facts are facts. They just can't accept that the poor economy of the last 6 years has influenced tourism in a nevati e way.or that their constant negativity on their forum boards has caused people to choose elsewhere for va ations. The facts are that the villages on Hatteras Island have had the nest tourist seasons in years. The gackle shops amd surf shops may be down but everyone else is adapting and doing well...in a bad economy. Look at what all other ztates use as indicators: tax receipts and occupancy rates. These are UP on Hatteras. And so are the numbers of animals that have been the target of closures.just because the pro Orv access groups make up their own numbers, this does not make their facts the truth. It just makes their followers believe their own lies.
Anyone who can honestly say that the ORV parking lots that ised to be the beaches of the Seashore back in 2001-2004 is preferable to the more moderate restrictions now, is selfish, greedy, and not interested in protecting wildlife areas for future generations. It is this same group of people who spout obscenities as their bumber stickers, threaten anyone who opposes them, and damage personal property of those they call "the dark side" (meaning Audubon supporters)that are responsible for the current mess here. Thank you Ted Williams for your accurate article on this issue. It is because of people like you that what is left of our wilderness will, hopefully, be protected for the future.
Intense competion
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2012/09/12 - 11:06am.
It is not apparent that visitors are not buying as much surfing related clothing and gear as the past because there were plenty of people shopping this summer on Hatteras Island. It is so easy to claim your business is down and then point a finger at the government regulation that you personally don't like.
The competition for what surf shops sell is intense and has gotten more so on Hatteras Island. Try counting the kite board shops just on Hatteras Island, some of whom sell everything, every brand of clothing, every type of board that a person can float on the water with and give lessons for all of it Then think about how many other businesses sell tee shirts , body boards etc. and rent all of the stuff surf shops do and rent them cheeper. Im surprised some have stayed in business at all. It is easier to complain and make up stories about government/environmental conspiracy regulations you personally don't like than it is to admit they have been out competed.
About the lies...
Submitted by AYS (not verified) on Wed, 2012/09/12 - 10:44am.
Whether or not the Audubon's number are true, they are lying about chicks and turtles being run over and crushed on the beaches, and people using the beaches as a speedway, cutting donuts, etc. Look into it. There are little to no occurences of animals being run over. Certainly not enough to base numerous articles on it, trying to play on the emotions of supporters who have never been to Hatteras Island. And in all my years of vacationing in Hatteras , I have very rarely, if ever, seen anyone cutting up on the beach in their ORV. And the one time I recall actually witnessing it, my group quickly called them out. The Consent Decree was a whole lot different of a ballgame than the current PERMANENT YEAR ROUND closures are, and seeing how much more crowded the beaches that are open are now, I can say I'm really not crazy about it. People go to Hatteras to escape crowds, and yet, they are being forced to pile in on top of each other because miles of beach where they used to spread out are now closed. i'm not against protecting animals/beaches for future generations, however, closed means closed! Don't have a pretty picture painted in your head that one day your children will have those beaches to enjoy...because they won't be opening back up to the public, if anything, more will be closed. And you will need an ORV to get there.
Kindly Read What I Wrote
Submitted by Ted Williams (not verified) on Thu, 2012/09/13 - 10:35am.
First, what you and other ORV advocates repeatedly define as “lies” are in reality facts you don’t want to know and don’t want the public to know. Second it isn’t “Audubon’s number”; it’s the Park Service number. Third, only an intellectually disadvantaged person or a person who didn’t read my pieces could conclude that they were “based” on “animals being run over.” Which are you? Fourth, only ecological illiterates (well represented in the ORV-advocate ranks) believe that the only way wildlife can be impacted by ORVs is to be physically run over. They’ve never heard of nest abandonment, nesting ground abandonment, feeding and staging habitat abandonment, hatchlings getting nailed by predators and fried by the sun when their parents are flushed, hatchlings getting trapped in ruts, turtle eggs crushed beneath the sand. And it’s easy not to see crushed wildlife when you don’t look for it. Fifth, no one is “forcing” you to “pile on top” of others. You do this by choice. There are miles of beaches on which you can drive and park your ORV in privacy or, GOD FORBID, walk on your own two feet. Finally, children don’t need ORVs to “enjoy” beaches (not that they won’t be able to access the beaches by ORVs). As I pointed out in the latest piece the new regs are exceedingly generous to ORV users by national seashore standards. Now please read the piece and get back to us.
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Cape Hatteras National Parking Lot by the Sea
The comment on this blog that the pro ORV side is spewing their lies and getting their clientele to contact congress, using thosw lies as talking points, is correct. The more they tell their lies, the more they believe them.and the unknowing clientele knows no better.
All we can hope is that the followers of Audubon across this nation speak up and let the real facts be known, else the squeaky wheel of ORV greed will get greased and we will be at fault for not educating the public with the real facts.