http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1605849/

They are not enforcing it yet but stay tuned.

All due to one idiot. Here is the court document:
http://www.wral.com/asset/news/local/2007/07/18/1607384/hatteras.swf

There is a poll on WRAL's webpage in regards to the beach closing to ORVs located here:

LINK TO POLL (http://www.wral.com/news/local/poll/1606509/?show_poll=1)

Please vote NO.


More on the story can be found at:

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,64879.0.html

Perfect example of what one moron with his head up his ass can do:shaking:

I voted NO. I used to live in Virginia Beach and go down to Hatteras every other weekend and take my little (then stock) Jeep all around the beaches near Oregon Inlet, Corolla, and Duck.

The latest closures. Looks like most beaches will stay open. I am sure the locals raised sam hell:

National Park Service Beach Access Report for July 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 19, 2007
CONTACT: 252-473-2111, ext. 148

Weekly Up-date:

The National Park Service continues to operate and manage access to Cape
Hatteras National Seashore beaches under the Interim Strategy guidance.
Beach Access is open as described below.

National Seashore beaches and inlets experience varying degrees of
erosion and notable high tides. Travel in many areas may be limited
during high wind/tide conditions. Knowledge of tidal changes and
caution should be exercised while traveling the beaches of the park.
Peak season and visitation to park beaches requires extra precautionary
measures on everyone’s part. Please be aware the speed limit on all
beaches is 25 mph and travel in areas with high concentrations of people
and vehicles may require lower speeds. Use caution! Pets MUST be kept
on a 6’ leash at all times.

The Park Beach Access Report is complemented weekly with the Park
Resource Management Field Summary.

** Blue text = updated news.

Bodie Island District (Coquina Beach to Ramp 27)
There are approximately 16.5 miles of ocean shoreline in the Bodie
Island District (excluding Pea Island). 16.0 miles are open to
pedestrians and 14.3 miles are open for ORV access.

Ramp 1 - Ramp 2 (Coquina Beach Area)
A SEASONAL beach closure is 1.6 miles long and went into effect May 15.
The beach from the south boundary of the Town of Nags Head to Coquina
Beach is closed to ORV access but remains open for pedestrian access.

Ramp 2 - Ramp 4 to Bodie Island Spit
The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access along the ocean
shoreline for 1.2 miles south of Ramp 4 and 2.2 miles north of Ramp 4.
Some areas may experience access limitations during extreme high tides
or winds.

A RESOURCE protection area (pre-nesting area) was established at
Bodie Island Spit on March 26, 2007. It includes interior areas
of the spit and the shoreline of the “pond.” Access to pond
from the northeast side is closed as part of the RESOURCE
protection area. The resource protection area was modified on
July 15 to include a closure of 0.9 of a mile along the
ocean/inlet shoreline and to the southwest side of the inlet
near the Bonner Bridge due to the hatching of a piping plover
nest. The 3-egg piping plover nest within the protection area
hatched Sunday producing three chicks. As of Wednesday, July
18, one chick still survives. This area is subject to a high
risk of predation by fox and raccoons. NPS will continue to
provide updates on the situation at this location.
A RESOURCE protection area is established on Green Island for
American Oystercatcher and nesting Least Tern nests/colony.
The American Oystercatcher chicks have fledged. The island is
still closed to landing while nesting activity is in progress.

Villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo: (north of Ramp 23 for 3 miles to
Pea Island NWR boundary)
Annual SEASONAL village beach closure went into effect on May 15.
The beach areas in front of the villages of Rodanthe, Waves,
Salvo are closed to ORV access but remain open to pedestrian
access. This section of beach is approximately 3.0 miles long.

Ramp 23 - Ramp 27 (4.3 miles):
Beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access along the ocean shoreline
for 4.3 miles between Ramp 23 to Ramp 27. There is no through ORV or
pedestrian access through the RESOURCE protection closure which is 0.2
mile in length located just north of Ramp 27.

A RESOURCE protection area exists 4.3 miles south of Ramp 23 (or 0.1
mile north of Ramp 27) for re-nesting American Oystercatchers and
Least Tern nests and hatchlings. This full beach closure is
approximately 0.2 mile long. No changes.

Hatteras Island District (Ramp 27 South to Hatteras Inlet)
The Hatteras District has a total distance of 31.9 miles of ocean
shoreline. There are approximately 28.9 miles open to pedestrians and
approximately 13.5 miles of beach are open for ORV access. ORV use is
restricted by 11.4 miles of SEASONAL and SAFETY closures. Approximately
3.0 miles are closed due to full beach RESOURCE protection closures.

Ramp 27 - Ramp 30 (2.2 miles):
Beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access along the ocean shoreline
for 0.1 mile south of Ramp 27 and for 0.7 mile north of Ramp 30. Full
beach closures exist 0.1 mile south of Ramp 27 and 0.7 mile north of
Ramp 30. There is no through ORV or pedestrian access through the
RESOURCE protection closures. As of July 19, all three RESOURCE
protection areas have hatchlings or fledgings of American Oystercatchers
and/or Least Terns with a few remaining active least tern nests.

A RESOURCE protection area exists 0.1 mile south of Ramp 27 for
re-nesting American Oystercatchers and a least tern colony. The
protection area is 0.2 mile in length.
A RESOURCE protection area exists 0.3 mile south of Ramp 27 for
re-nesting American Oystercatchers. The protection area is 0.1
mile in length.
A RESOURCE protection area exists north of Ramp 30 for American
Oystercatchers. This pair re-nested 1.1 miles south of Ramp 27 or
0.7 mile north of Ramp 30. Due to the narrow width of the beach,
this is a full beach closure with no ORV or pedestrian access
through this 0.1 mile length closure. In addition, there is a
least tern colony.

Ramp 30 - Ramp 34 (4.3 miles):
Beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access along the ocean shoreline
for 3.5 miles between Ramp 30 and Ramp 34. As of July 19, all three
RESOURCE protection areas have hatchlings or fledgings of American
Oystercatchers and/or Least Terns with a few remaining active least tern
nests.

A RESOURCE protection area exists 3.5 miles south of Ramp 30 (or 0.7
miles north of Ramp 34) for nesting American Oystercatchers and a
least tern colony. The protection area is 0.1 mile in length.
A RESOURCE protection area exists 4.1 miles south of Ramp 30 (or 0.1
mile north of Ramp 34) for nesting American Oystercatcher and
least tern colony. The protection area is 0.1 mile in length.

Ramp 34 - Ramp 38 (4.0 miles):
Currently, there is no through access for ORVs from Ramp 34 to Ramp 38.
Pedestrian access is open.
Annual SEASONAL village beach closure went into effect on May 15.
The beach area in front of the village of Avon is closed to ORV
access but remains open for pedestrian access.

Ramp 38 - Ramp 43 (6.0 miles):
The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 1.3 miles south of
Ramp 38. Currently there is no through access for ORVs between Ramp 38
and Ramp 43. Pedestrian access is open.

A SEASONAL closure, 2.8 miles in length, begins 1.4 miles south of
Ramp 38 to 0.1 mile north of Ramp 43, and went into effect on May
16. This section is closed to ORV access but remains open to
pedestrian access.

Ramp 43 - Ramp 44 (0.3 of a mile):
The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access along the ocean
shoreline to Cape Point.

Ramp 44 - Ramp 49 (3.6 miles: includes Ramp 45):
The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access from Ramp 44 south to
Cape Point and from the Cape Point end of the closure south/west for
approximately 0.1 mile, where there is full beach closure due to a
Resource protection area. The full beach closure extends to Ramp 45 and
is 1.2 miles in length. The Interdunal Road between Ramps 44 and 45 is
open. Salt Pond Road is closed due to a Resource protection area.
There is currently no through access between Ramp 45 and Ramp 49.

Cape Point:
ORV and pedestrian access is open to Cape Point from Ramps 43 and 44,
and south/west from the Cape Point end of the closure along the
shoreline for approximately 0.1 mile to where a RESOURCE protection
area begins.
A RESOURCE protection area (pre-nesting area) was established March
27, 2007. It included interior areas of Cape Point and a complete
shoreline closure that started approximately 0.4 miles south/west
of Cape Point and ended approximately 0.1 east of Salt Pond Road.
The total closure distance is 1.2 miles. The first Piping Plover
nest (4-eggs) hatched and as of early morning on July 19, the
oldest Piping Plover chick has fledged. The second Piping Plover
chick still survives and is nearly fledged. Monitoring of the last
remaining active Piping Plover (3-eggs) nest continues. The adult
Piping Plovers are still incubating this nest. As of July 19, an
active least tern colony near the Salt Pond Road area has
hatchlings and fledgings and extends to Ramp 45.

South Beach:
The Interdunal Road is open to ORV and pedestrian access between
Ramps 44 and 45. Salt Pond Road is closed due to a RESOURCE
protection area (described above). There is currently no through
access between Ramps 45 and 49 due to two full beach closures, each
approximately 600 feet in length, for American Oystercatcher chicks
and a least tern colony.

A RESOURCE protection area (pre-nesting area), along the upper beach,
was established in March from Ramp 45 to the west. The total
closure distance was 1.4 miles along the upper beach. On June 5,
2007, American Oystercatcher chicks hatched producing three chicks
and a full beach closure, 600 feet in length, was implemented
approximately 0.9 mile west of Ramp 45 or 2.3 miles east of Ramp
49. There is no ORV or pedestrian access through the 600 feet full
beach closure. As of July 19, three American Oystercatchers chicks
survive but have not fledged yet.
A RESOURCE protection area, 1.8 miles north of Ramp 49, was
established on June 21, 2007 for Least Tern colony hatchlings. The
closure is 0.3 mile in length and is a full beach closure with no
ORV or pedestrian access. As of July 19, there are hatchlings and
fledgings and a few remaining active Least Tern nests in this
closure.

Ramp 49 - Ramp 55 (5.9 miles: includes Sandy Bay soundside parking
area):
The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 1.1 miles south of
Ramp 49 to the boundary of the Frisco and Hatteras Village closure.
Pedestrian access is open to Ramp 55. There is no through ORV access
between Ramp 49 and Ramp 55.
A SEASONAL closure for Frisco Village and Hatteras Village is 4.0
miles long and went into effect on May 15. The beach area in front
of the villages of Frisco and Hatteras is closed to ORV access but
remains open to pedestrian access.

Ramp 55 - Hatteras Inlet (2.7 miles):
ORV and pedestrian access is open along the ocean shoreline from Ramp
55 south to 0.35 miles north of the Hatteras Inlet and “the Rip”
area. The Pole Road, Cable Crossing and Spur Road are all open.

A RESOURCE protection area is located on the sound shoreline of
both Isabel overwash areas. Pole Road and ocean shoreline
access remains open past this area.
A RESOURCE protection area (pre-nesting area) at the southern end
of the spit has been removed. ORV access is open on both the
ocean shoreline and sound shoreline almost to the Rip; however,
an ORV SAFETY CLOSURE exists due to narrow sections of beach
north of the Rip on both sides. Pedestrian access is open
around the entire tip of the inlet from oceanside to soundside.
The area continues to be evaluated for re-opening to ORV use as
soon as reliable access on the oceanside at high tide permits
safe travel through to the soundside.

Ocracoke Island District
The Ocracoke Island District has a total of 16.5 miles of ocean
shoreline. There are 16.2 miles open to pedestrians and approximately
7.8 miles are open to ORV access. ORV use is restricted by
approximately 8.7 miles of SAFETY and SEASONAL closures and
approximately 0.5 mile is restricted by a RESOURCE protection area.

Ramp 59 - Ramp 67 (7.8 miles):
ORV and pedestrian access is open north of Ramp 59 and 1.0 mile south of
Ramp 59 where a SAFETY Closure begins. There is no through ORV access
from Ramp 59 to Ramp 67. Pedestrian access is open.
A SAFETY closure is 5.4 miles long, and begins 1.0 miles south of
Ramp 59 to 1.2 miles north of Ramp 67. This section is open to
pedestrian access but not to ORV access. A RESOURCE closure for a
leatherback turtle nest and is located within this SAFETY closure
area. As of June 7, 2007, the nest closure was expanded to 350’
and is marked as a full beach closure. The nest is well past the
“hatch date” window and is being excavated today by park staff.

Ramp 67 - Ramp 70 (3.8 miles; includes Ramp 68) :
The beach is open to pedestrian access from Ramp 67 to Ramp 70. There
no through access for ORVs between Ramps 67 and 70.
A RESOURCE protection area, approx. 0.5 mile long, was established
for an American Oystercatcher nest between Ramp 68 and 70, which
was subsequently lost. The birds renested and have hatched a
chick that continues to survive as of July 19.
The SEASONAL closure was established on May 15, 2007 in front of the
lifeguarded beach/campground extends from .05 mile south of Ramp
67 to 0.25 miles north of Ramp 70. This section of beach,
approximately 3.3 miles in length, and closes Ramp 68 an d is
closed to ORV access but remains open for pedestrian access.

Ramp 70 - Ramp 72 (1.8 miles) and Ramp 72 to South Ocracoke Spit (4.6
miles):
The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access from Ramp 70 south along
ocean shoreline, for approximately 0.4 of a mile where a RESOURCE
shoreline protection area begins. An access corridor is open to ORV and
pedestrians on the upper beach and access is open to South Point. Due
to high tides and erosion from numerous northeast winds, access to South
Point of Ocracoke may not be accessible at high tide.

A RESOURCE protection area (pre-nesting area) was established March 29
that encompasses interior and soundside areas of the spit. Ocean
shoreline access is open to South Point. On April 11, the resource
protection area was extended approximately 500 feet from on the
southwestern edge towards the sound and currently encompasses an
American Oystercatcher nest. As of July 2, all four piping plover
chicks were lost. On Monday, July 9, a full beach closure, then
subsequent nightly closures, was implemented for an American
Oystercatcher chick. The chick moved to the soundside and the
closure/restrictions on the oceanside were removed and 24-hour
oceanside access is open. As of July 19, the chick survives.

Temporary resource protection areas are necessary to protect threatened
and endangered species and species of concern including Piping Plovers,
American Oystercatchers, Colonial Waterbirds (Terns and Skimmers), and sea
turtles. Posted areas are closed to vehicles, pedestrians and pets.