Read this News Flash from the Island Free Press. After you read it make a comment on what changes you see coming to beach access on Hatteras Island as a result of this bill. UPDATE: Senate passes defense bill that includes changes to seashores ORV plan After a week of seemingly endless procedural delays and debate, the U.S. Senate this evening passed the $585 billion National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 89 to 11. Attached to the bill and also passed is a public lands package of bills, one of which includes some significant changes to the Cape Hatteras National Seashores Off-Road Vehicle Plan. Here is the exact language for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore that is part of the public lands package: SEC. 3057. CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE RECREATIONAL AREA. (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) FINAL RULE.—The term ‘‘Final Rule’’means the final rule entitled ‘‘Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System, Cape Hatteras National Seashore—Off-Road Vehicle Management’’(77 Fed. Reg. 3123 (January 23, 2012)). (2) NATIONAL SEASHORE.—The term ‘‘National Seashore’’ means the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of North Carolina. (b) REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT OF WILDLIFE PROTECTION BUFFERS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review and modify wildlife buffers in the National Seashore in accordance with this subsection and any other applicable law. (2) BUFFER MODIFICATIONS.—In modifying wildlife buffers under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, using adaptive management practices— (A) ensure that the buffers are of the shortest duration and cover the smallest area necessary to protect a species, as determined in accordance with peer-reviewed scientific data; and (B) designate pedestrian and vehicle corridors around areas of the National Seashore closed because of wildlife buffers, to allow access to areas that are open. (3) COORDINATION WITH STATE.—The Secretary, after coordinating with the State, shall determine appropriate buffer protections for species that are not listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), but that are identified for protection under State law. (c) MODIFICATIONS TO FINAL RULE.—The Secretary shall undertake a public process to consider, consistent with management requirements at the National Seashore, the following changes to the Final Rule: (1) Opening beaches at the National Seashore that are closed to night driving restrictions, by opening beach segments each morning on a rolling basis as daily management reviews are completed. (2) Extending seasonal off-road vehicle routes for additional periods in the Fall and Spring if offroad vehicle use would not create resource management problems at the National Seashore. (3) Modifying the size and location of vehicle free areas. (d) CONSTRUCTION OF NEW VEHICLE ACCESS POINTS.—The Secretary shall construct new vehicle access points and roads at the National Seashore— (1) as expeditiously as practicable; and (2) in accordance with applicable management plans for the National Seashore. (e) REPORT.—The Secretary shall report to Congress within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act on measures taken to implement this section.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 11:27:20 +0000