Rep. Jones tries to short-circuit ORV study

What  the politicians
Are saying about ORV ban


Many of you have written letters to state politicians about the threatened ban of ORVs in national parks. Here's a sampling of the replies:

"Let me first make it painfully clear that my number one concern is for the lives and livelihoods of all those who enjoy and depend on the beaches and oceans for recreation and survival. If the four wheel drive vehicles are endangering the safety of others, they must be regulated. However, such a ban on the use of these vehicles would propose a situation that could ignite an unconstitutional trend which could affect many people and many other areas of recreation along the beaches. I am very concerned that the U.S. Department of the Interior is slowly eradicating all forms of human activity from public land. This I cannot support. "

U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C.



"The possible ban of off-road vehicles on Cape Hatteras would be detrimental to our native North Carolinians as well as visitors to our great state. The beaches on Cape Hatteras have always been open to off-road vehicle use and I plan to do everything in my power to maintain this privilege. I have contacted the Director of the NPS to express my view regarding ORV on the beaches of Cape Hatteras. It is my understanding that all areas controlled by the NPS must be designated, in accordance with Executive Orders signed by Presidents Nixon and Carter, a place where off-road vehicles are permitted. I see no reason as to why Cape Hatteras privileges would be revoked."

N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare




"Please be assured also I will share your opposition for prohibiting driving on the beaches of the Outer Banks with my colleagues on the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, who have jurisdiction over the Park Service. I certainly will bear in mind your opposition should H.R. 5047 (Rep. Walter Jones's proposed bill) be presented to the full House for a vote."

U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-N.C.

epublican Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina has introduced a bill to halt efforts by the National Park Service to ban beach driving at the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout national seashores.
Jones' bill is in response to a petition filed last December by the Bluewater Network and 66 other environmental groups to restrict most ORV driving in parks to paved and gravel roads.
The Park Service is preparing a response to the petition, and Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras seashores are planning to study ORV use in the parks. Those studies, though, haven't begun and are probably at least two years from completion. They would be the first step in any effort to restrict driving in the seashores.
    Jones has sided with opponents of the proposal, including DIFF and other fishing clubs. His bill would prevent any money from admission fees and user fees at the two seashores from being used to pay for the studies.
DIFF continues to urge its members to write state and congressional legislators expressing their opposition to the threatened ORV ban. Some of you already have, and most of the replies indicate that the politicians are on our side.
Knowing that there is strength in numbers, the club's board is working to form alliances with groups whose interests and concerns are similar to ours. The board is compiling a list and will discuss at its next meeting how to work with these various groups.
In the mean time, keep informed, keep those letters going out, follow park rules, but don't panic. Nothing will happen for at least a year, probably two.

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3

Page 5

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