Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act

Bill: 113-s-486
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2013-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Motor vehicles
North Carolina
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pedestrians and bicycling
Seashores and lakeshores
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-07
text: 
 Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act - Requires the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina to be managed in accordance with the Interim Protected Species Management Strategy/Environmental Assessment issued by the National Park Service (NPS) on June 13, 2007, for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area until the Secretary of the Interior issues a new final rule that meets the additional restrictions specified below. Bars the imposition of any additional restrictions on pedestrian or motorized vehicular access to any part of the Recreation Area for species protection beyond those in the Interim Management Strategy, other than as specifically authorized pursuant to this Act. 
 
Allows the Secretary if, based on peer-reviewed science and after public comment, it is determined that additional restrictions on access to a part of the Recreation Area are necessary to protect endangered species, to only restrict pedestrian and vehicular access for recreational activities for the shortest possible time and on the smallest possible portions of such area. 
 
Prohibits the final rule titled &quot;Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System, Cape Hatteras National Seashore--Off-Road Vehicle Management&quot; from having any force or effect.
 
Invalidates the April 30, 2008, consent decree filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina regarding off-road vehicle use at the Seashore.

action_date: 2013-09-10
text: 
 Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to review and modify wildlife buffers in the Cape Haterras National Seashore Recreational Area in North Carolina.
 
Requires the Secretary, in modifying such wildlife buffers, to: (1) ensure that they are of the shortest duration and cover the smallest area necessary to protect a species, and (2) designate pedestrian and vehicle corridors around areas of the National Seashore closed because of wildlife buffers to allow access to areas that are open. 
 
Requires the Secretary to determine appropriate buffer protections for species that are not listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, but that are identified for protection under state law. 
 
Instructs the Secretary to undertake a public process to consider the following changes to the final rule: (1) opening beaches at the National Seashore that are closed to night driving restrictions, (2) extending seasonal off-road vehicle routes for additional periods in the Fall and Spring if off-road vehicle use would not create resource management problems at the National Seashore, and (3) modifying the size and location of vehicle-free areas. 
 
Requires the Secretary to construct new vehicle access points and roads at the National Seashore: (1) as expeditiously as practicable, and (2) in accordance with applicable management plans for the National Seashore. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 180.
action_date: 2013-09-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-102.
action_date: 2013-09-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Wyden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-102.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-27.
action_date: 2013-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate