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JONES RELEASES STATEMENT ON GROUPS’ MOTION TO STOP BEACH DRIVING ON CAPE HATTERAS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a motion filed this week in U.S. District Court to ban beach driving in major portions of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) issued the following statement:
“I am very disappointed that a few special interest groups have taken the extreme step of filing a motion in U.S. District Court to stop beach driving in major portions of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This ill-advised action threatens to shatter the good work that Park Superintendent Mike Murray has done to implement an interim management plan for beach driving and to bring all the parties together to negotiate a final rule.”
“This development is especially troubling for many reasons. These groups demanded a seat at the negotiating table but their true intentions must be called into question when they insist on using the courts to short circuit or influence the negotiating process. Furthermore, available evidence suggests that the Park’s interim management strategy has been successful in protecting endangered birds, so it is simply not credible to claim that beach driving needs to be stopped in order to save birds.”
“I urge these groups to rethink their decision, to withdraw their motion for a preliminary injunction, and to return to the negotiating table. Superintendent Murray has laid out a process to resolve this issue. It will take time, and not everyone will be 100 percent happy with the result, but it’s far better than managing the Seashore through the judicial system.”
For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones, please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.
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