WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers released the following statement from her office in Washington this afternoon:

"Congressman Jones has authored an important piece of legislation that will protect people's access to North Carolina beaches while still protecting different species that exist in the area. We need to allow people to have recreational access to Cape Hatteras as it was originally intended and I am proud to join Congressman Jones in making sure this is accomplished."

Today Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC) introduced H.R. 4094, legislation that would restore reasonable pedestrian and motorized access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area.  The bill - which Congresswoman Ellmers is proud to co-sponsor - would overturn a final rule implemented by the National Park Service (NPS) two weeks ago, as well as the 2008 U.S. District court approved Consent Decree.  Both the Rule and the Consent Decree excessively restrict human access to the Recreational Area. 

The bill would reinstitute the Park Service’s 2007 Interim Management Strategy (IMS) to govern visitor access and species protection in the Recreational Area.  The Interim Strategy was backed up by a 113-page Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which found that it would not jeopardize the species of concern, namely piping plover and sea turtles.  H.R. 4094 has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee for further consideration. 

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For more information, please visit Congresswoman Ellmers’ website at www.ellmers.house.gov or call (202) 225-4531.

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Tom Doheny

Press Secretary