Burr Bill Would Allow Off-Road Vehicle Use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Press Release

Burr Bill Would Allow Off-Road Vehicle Use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Senator Richard Burr today introduced the "Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act" in the U.S. Senate that would reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicle use on Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS). The reinstatement of the original Interim Management Strategy, issued by the National Park Service (NPS) on June 13, 2007, would set aside current mandates and requirements which were put in place in the wake of a consent decree filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, that prevent off-road vehicle and citizen access to a significant portion of this National Seashore.

"As a Senator from North Carolina and Ranking Member on the National Parks Subcommittee, I always try to make sure that our state's residents have access to North Carolina's scenic treasures," Senator Burr said. "It is regrettable that people are prevented from accessing Cape Hatteras at times because of ORV restrictions. I believe we can come to a compromise that allows people to have access while at the same time addressing any potential environmental concerns."

If enacted, the National Park Service's Interim Management Strategy will go into effect immediately and end upon the National Park Service establishing a long-term off-road vehicle management plan for the use of CHNS by the public.

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