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On July 20, 2000, a delegation from the Outer Banks Preservation Association appeared before the Congressional Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, DC. The occasion was an oversight hearing on general issues involving access to national parks. Through the testimony of spokesman and Chairman John Couch, the Outer Banks Preservation Association presented the concerns of both residents and visitors supporting continued free and open vehicular access to the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Mr. Couch described the care and concern Cape Hatteras National Seashore users have for preserving and protecting the unique environment of the islands while maintaining recreational and commercial.

Mr. Couch concluded his presentation with the following statement; "Much of the economic fiber of these islands depends on the attraction and vehicular accessibility of our beaches for everyone. Irresponsible actions such as the Bluewater Coalition Petition to ban all off-road vehicles in national parks and the National Park Service’s inattentiveness and inaction are the most serious threats to our islands in their history. This has the very real potential of making our island communities the "Lost Colony" of today. The residents and visitors to Hatteras, Ocracoke and Bodie Islands deserve and need to preserve the way of life that has made these islands unique and attractive, or else, we shall see a way of life perish as surely as our Native American ancestors did."

Mr. Couch made a strong point of the unique character and traditional lifestyle of the Outer Banks and noted that this is the only place where eight villages can be found within the boundaries of a national park. He further pointed out that free and open vehicular beach access benefits senior citizens, the disabled and others with personal mobility limitations to enjoy the same recreational opportunities as the fully abled. Mr. Couch stated that, although the Outer Banks Preservation Association had accumulated almost 5,000 pages of data from the National Park Service files, user groups and private individuals, there was no data or definitive information showing that off-road vehicles, used responsibly and within present guidelines, cause any permanent damage or degradation to the beach.

Mr. Couch also spoke briefly concerning the likely economic devastation to the island communities that would result if vehicular beach access were to be denied. An informal survey suggests that up to 60% of the tourist business would be lost, especially in the Spring and Fall "shoulder" seasons when the greatest vehicular beach access use occurs. The implications of this loss would be higher taxes, rising costs for goods and services, higher unemployment and curtailment of infrastructure development and services on the islands. Realtors on the Outer Banks are already reporting lost sales due to the uncertainty of the vehicular beach access issue.

The Outer Banks Preservation Association supports the development, implementation and enforcement of a well-thought-out, off-road vehicle management plan. However, the organization strongly opposes the banning of vehicular beach access or any fee structure which would potentially regulate access to, or use of, the beach. We believe that these actions would directly violate the original promise of the National Park Service, in 1952, to maintain free and open beach access for both commercial and recreational use.

The delegation to the Congressional Hearing included: John Couch, Chairman, Outer Banks Preservation Association; Frank Folb, Frank and Fran’s, Avon, NC; Natalie Perry, Frisco Rod and Gun, Frisco, NC, John Head, Midgett Realty, Hatteras Village, NC; Wayne Mathis, retired resident, Buxton, NC, Larry Hardham, President, Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, Buxton, NC; and Michael McAllister, retired resident and publicist, Avon, NC.

For further information about the Outer Banks Preservation Association or the Congressional Hearing, simply write to the Outer Banks Preservation Association, P.O. Box 1355, Buxton, NC 27920.