Thursday, April 7, 2011

Response from Senator Kay Hagan







Early this past February (the 9th to be exact), I posted a letter I wrote to Senator Hagan, Senator Burr and Representative Jones on my blog in regards to off road access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. - Today I got a response from Senator Hagan. I want to share this with my readers.



April 7, 2011

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns with public beach access on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. I greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore was authorized as the nation's first national seashore in 1937, and has been managed by the National Park Service (NPS) for more than 50 years. The Seashore is a key part of North Carolina's coastal economy and a favorite destination for beachgoers from throughout the country. The beaches of Hatteras Island are among the nation's best because they offer an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a natural landscape largely untouched by human development. To do so, however, many park visitors utilize Off Road Vehicles (ORVs) to access the remote recreational areas of the island.

Throughout recent years, the NPS has worked to develop a final ORV management plan to ensure visitor safety and environmental protection. In April 2008, a U.S. District Court Judge instituted a temporary plan expanding ORV regulations while the NPS prepared a final plan. Most recently, the NPS concluded an environmental review of proposed alternatives, and has selected a preferred approach to comply with resource protection requirements.

Like you, I am concerned that this preferred approach does not reflect input from the local community. With this in mind, I have worked closely with a bipartisan group of colleagues to maximize responsible public access on Hatteras beaches. Specifically, we have requested that the Department of the Interiorand the Office of Management and Budget consider all available options to allow access to recreational areas that are open to ORV usage. We have also encouraged the Secretary of Interior to meet with representatives of the local community to discuss the impacts of the proposed restrictions.

The Hatteras community has now experienced multiple summers with severely restricted beach access, and many local businesses may not survive another. I am committed to working with the NPS and local leaders to achieve an ORV plan that balances important environmental concerns with the economic viability of the Hatteras Island community.

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,


Kay R. Hagan


I for one appreciate what Senator Hagan is doing in regards to this issue of access on our Cape Hatteras National Seashore. These past few years of excessively oppressive rules limiting off road access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore has severely harmed the economies of the villages surrounded by the Cape Hatteras National Seashore boundaries. These villages are not a group of Myrtle Beach style resorts for which people visit to soak up the sun, dance in nightclubs and play round after round of golf. Large chain hotels or restaurants are not found on Hatteras Island. The tourism dollars that sustains the local economy comes from visitors such as surf fishermen, bird watchers, surfers and other adventurous souls seeking to enjoy the recreational pursuits these remote, isolated beaches offer.

Surf fishermen in particular, hold this seashore as a valued recreational resource. Here cold and warm water currents collide, resulting in an abundant and wide variety of fish sought for both their sporting and culinary value. Fishing conditions here are especially conducive to catching big red drum, famed for its strength and stamina as it battles the surf fisherman when hooked. The the all tackle world record red drum was caught near the village of Avon. Knowing the record red drum was caught here inspires many anglers to make the trek to Cape Hatteras National Seashore in hopes of hooking one of these bruisers.

On March 18th of this year, off road vehicle access to "The Point" was cut off due to observed piping plover breeding behavior. This is the earliest ORV access has been denied since the 2008 consent decree signed by Federal District Court Judge Terrence Boyle. (The consent decree settled a lawsuit filed by Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society in 2007. The lawsuit alleged inadequacies in the Park Service's management of protected species within CHNS and failure of the park to comply with NPS regulations and a 1972 executive order regarding off road vehicle use within park boundaries.) This supremely prime fishing location alone draws thousands of fishermen to the area. Without access, these fishermen and the dollars they spend on lodging, restaurants, groceries, tackle and other sundries will go elsewhere. Without these dollars, how will the villagers of Hatteras Island make a living? This is not only a local matter concerning economic survival of a few, this a national matter concerning access to resources belonging to each and every taxpaying American. As evidenced by the above letter from Senator Hagan, our elected officials are not deaf to our concerns over access to this and other national recreational resources. I ask that readers of this blog, take the time to contact their representatives in Washington, DC and ask that they also seek better accessibility to our Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

I want to share a recipe for a favorite Hatteras Island dish.

Hatteras Island Clam Chowder

4 cups of freshly shucked clams and associated broth from cooking the clams (ok to substitute 2 (16 ounce) cans of minced clams and juice from the cans)

1 quart of water

4 cups diced potatoes

8 spring onions, diced

5 stalks of celery, chopped.

8 pieces of bacon, fried and grease rendered

1 teaspoon of Old Bay Seasoning (or to taste)

In a large iron skillet, fry bacon to a crisp. Remove bacon from skillet, drain bacon grease, save for one tablespoon. In same frying pan, cook onions and celery until they begin to soften. Crumple bacon and stir into the softened vegitables. Transfer all to a large soup pot, add clams, juice, water, potatoes and Old Bay Seasoning. Heat soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.







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