Notes On The extension Of The Public Comment Period

As many of you are aware, the National Park Service extended the deadline for public comment regarding their new proposed rule for management of Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, RIN 1024-AD85 which will serve to severely, and unlawfully, restrict ORV and pedestrian access to our public beaches.

NPS claims in a press release issued by Cyndy Holda, Superintendent Mike Murray's generally and historically ill-informed "public affairs specialist", that this extension was proffered so that those that "might" have been effected by Hurricane Irene, have more time to write and submit their public comments on this absurd collection of draconian measures which serve no purpose other than to severely limit access to our beaches and drive the economies of these two amazing islands into the ground.

Make no mistake about it my friends, this extension was, in all likelihood, granted because the supporters of the Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Southern Environmental Law Center have not been able to garner the support they wish and subsequently overwhelm NPS with comment opposing access of any form. Remember that all of about 30 of the comments rejected by NPS during the public comment period regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement were from the Wilderness Society and came in the form of rarely altered form letters and totalled close to 16,470 rejected comments.

This extension was not granted for the people of the Islands or the visiting public!

This is why it is so important that we continue to work together to support free and open access to our beaches until sound and lawfully peer reviewed science can demonstrate that access to this Seashore is harming the resource. Which to date, has never been shown. The terms oft used by the environmental groups, "could have, might have, possibly" etc are not sound science and they continue to believe their “right to be mistaken” excuses precise and competent scientific analysis for actions they know will wreak havoc upon the right of the American public to visit this, our Seashore, as well as the economies of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

Therefore, it is imperative that you take the time to submit comment and support your right of access and egress to these amazing beaches.

Comment will be accepted until midnight 9/19/11 electronically or needs postmarked by midnight of that date.

All comments MUST include the rule identification number (RIN 1024-AD85) and be addressed to either NPS or preferably, the National Park Service in order to not be rejected.

This gives us yet another chance to express our dismay at the proposed unfounded rules that NPS seeks to put in place. Take advantage of it please! You can bet your bottom dollar the "darkside " will.

Instructions on how and where to post your comment can be found at:

www.obpa.org

www.ncbba.org

www.islandfreepress.org

Also, links to view the submitted comments can be found there also; perusal of which will reveal just how ignorant many of the "darkside" submitters are about this amazing place.

That's all for the moment. I'll likely be back on in a while to give note on progress made to restore access to the Island.

Tight Lines,

Wheat