These birds are too tiny to protect themselves. They need our help! Piping Plover - Photo by Jeff Lewis.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is in jeopardy, and WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If Senate Bill S 486 is passed on Tuesday, the mandated regulation that balances the protection of wildlife with use of the beach for recreation will disappear and protections for wildlife will go with it.
We have been too quiet – it is time to make some noise if we value a reasonable management plan carefully crafted by many and supported by science. Please don’t stay silent and let a minority dictate the rules for this National treasure!
Several years ago a new management plan for Cape Hatteras National Seashore was crafted to provide a balance between beach driving, pedestrians and wildlife. It was supported in most comments the National Park Service received, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Geological Survey. The plan allows beach driving on 41 of the 67 miles of the Seashore either year-round or seasonally.
Since the plan went into effect both tourism and nesting sea turtles have set records and beach nesting birds have rebounded.
Unfortunately, a small, but vocal, group of ORV users has convinced both Senators Hagan and Burr to sponsor legislation, SB 486, that rescinds the present plan and returns to the situation of virtually no management, where families, turtles and birds were seriously impacted by beach drivers.
Federal law mandates that national parks have management plans that balance wildlife, recreational uses and vehicle access. SB 486 would violate that mandate.
This bill comes up in committee in just days, and must stop there.
Please call both Senators Burr and Hagan and ask them to pull SB 486 from consideration.
Hagan: 202-224-6342 & Burr: 202-224-3154.
You can also email, tweet and post to the Facebook pages of Hagan and Burr letting them know that you oppose S486 and want the current management plan to stand.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT- ACT NOW
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE 5:00 PM ON MONDAY, JUNE 17:
- Call Senator Hagan
- Join the National Action Alert from National Audubon
- Email Senator Hagan's office with a personal note
- Post on Senator Hagan's Facebook Page that you oppose S 486
- If you are on Twitter, tweet Senator Hagan
- Get your friends & family involved - If they live outside of NC have them contact their senator.
NOW LET'S FLOCK TOGETHER AND KILL THE BILL!
Call Senator Hagan’s office: 202-224-6342
After reaching the office, you can press one to leave a comment, or two to reach a staff member.
Script: My name is [your name], and I am a resident of North Carolina. I am calling to oppose Senate Bill 486. I am in favor of the current management plan and ask that you review the facts and the science. Taking the plan back to zero protection for our wildlife is not acceptable to me and many, many other visitors to the Seashore. It’s my beach too!
Email Senator Hagan: Senator Hagan's email page
Subject of your message: KILL THE BILL: S 486
Script: My name is [your name], and I am a resident of North Carolina. I am calling to oppose Senate Bill 486. I am in favor of the current management plan and ask that you review the facts and the science. Taking the plan back to zero protection for our wildlife is not acceptable to me and many, many other visitors to the Seashore. It’s my beach too!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Facebook post to Senator Hagan: Senator Hagan's Facebook Page
I am in favor of the current management plan and want the plan to stand! Kill the bill! This is my beach too. Share to encourage your friends to kill this bill.
Tweet Senator Hagan: Senator Hagan's Twitter Page
@SenatorHagan Save Hatteras from vehicle access for pedestrians, sea turtles & shorebirds! It’s my beach too. #s486 #killthebill #back2zero
Get Friends & Family Involved:
S 486 is under review by the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee and could be voted on as early as TUESDAY, JUNE 18. If you have family and friends in any of these states, please ask them to contact their senator to kill the S 486 bill. Let’s flock together!
US Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Members:
Alaska -- Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (202) 224-6665 Email Twitter Facebook
Arizona -- Jeff Flake (202) 224-4521 Email Twitter Facebook
Colorado -- Mark Udall (202) 224-5941 Email Twitter Facebook
Delaware -- Christopher Coons (202) 224-5042 Email Twitter Facebook
Hawaii -- Brian Schatz (202) 224-3934 Email Twitter Facebook
Idaho -- James Risch (202) 224-2752 Email Twitter Facebook
Louisiana -- Mary Landrieu (202) 224-5824 Email Twitter Facebook
Michigan -- Debbie Stabenow (202) 224-4822 Email Twitter Facebook
Minnesota -- Al Franken (202) 224-5641 Email Twitter Facebook
Nevada -- Dean Heller (202) 224-6244 Email Twitter Facebook
New Mexico -- Martin Heinrich (202) 224-5521 Email Twitter Facebook
North Dakota -- Joe Hoeven (202) 224-2551 Email Twitter Facebook
Ohio -- Rob Portman (202) 224-3353 Email Twitter Facebook
Oregon -- Chairman Ron Wyden (202) 224-5244 Email Twitter Facebook
South Carolina -- Tim Scott (202) 224-6121 Email Twitter Facebook
South Dakota -- Tim Johnson (202) 224-5842 Email Twitter Facebook
Tennessee -- Lamar Alexander (202) 224-4944 Email Twitter Facebook
Utah -- Mike Lee (202) 224-5444 Email Twitter Facebook
Vermont -- Bernard Sanders (202) 224-5141 Email Twitter Facebook
Washington -- Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441 Email Twitter Facebook
West Virginia -- Joe Manchin (202) 224-3954 Email Twitter Facebook
Wyoming -- John Barrasso (202) 224-6441 Email Twitter Facebook
