Cape Lookout National Seashore Park Service is proposing an ORV plan (off Road Vehicle), which if implemented will burden the American taxpayer with costly, unnecessary restrictions as well as limiting public access to the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Park officials state this is necessary to protect our Natural Resources. To our knowledge there has been no damage to any Natural Resources over the last 85 years.
Our Fight for Cape Lookout organization is adamantly opposed to these restrictions and is inviting you to share your views or concerns with your state and federal representatives.
After months of lengthy review of the ORV Plans 5 alternatives (A,B,C,D,E), Economic impact Studies, over 1,200 public comments along with recommendations from County, State and Federal representatives and congressmen, the National Park Service still intends to implement their preferred Alternative “C” .
This is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2016. Requiring training classes, implement a permit system for ORV’s limiting permits caps, permit fees, limited vehicle wheelbases (180 inches), ban on night driving, the reduction and set vehicle and equipment standards phasing out of ATV’s, RTV’s, and UTV’s, additional pedestrian – only areas, impose date and time restrictions on the use of ORV’s, and additional closure dates on annual basis. Along with numerous other unnecessary rules which will be used by Park law enforcement to recover the cost of administering the ORV special usage permit program.
Fight for Cape Lookout Organizations position on this plan, is Alternative “A” would be the best choice of the 5 alternatives. Vehicles have been used on both North and South Core Banks (the National Seashore Park) dating back to the 1930’s. There is no data to back up the need for additional restrictions of this magnitude and is discriminative in nature to select one user group ORV”s.
The simple fact that Cape Lookout National Seashore is a barrier island already limits the accessibility to the park. There are no roads or bridges providing access and to visit your park, you must travel by water transportation of some sort, private boat, or privately owned ferries. It is clear to see, tourist to our National Park and Crystal Coast will be burdened with additional permit fees in addition to transportation cost. The surrounding area is already suffering economically. This action will reduce the total number of customers using the three passenger ferries transporting visitors to the park, but it will also affects the entire local economy.
Lastly, the National Park Service wants you to accept that they own this land and are allowing you the American Taxpayer the privilege to use it under their restrictions and laws. They have lost sight of the fact they are public servants, working to you. I ask each of you to join us in this fight to save our rights to use the park as it was established and intended, for public use and enjoyment of the recreational value.
