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Date: August 21, 2009
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-473-2111, ext. 148

Deputy Superintendent Darrell Echols announced today that a fourth vandalism incident, the third in three days, occurred at Ramp 23 on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 resulting in the closure of the ramp near Salvo, NC in Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  The fourth incident of the same resource protection area marks an unprecedented situation for management of the off-road vehicle issue under the terms of the court ordered consent decree.  The incident is being investigated by NPS law enforcement personnel.  

The recent vandalism represents the fourth time the Ramp 23 protection area has been vandalized.  According to the terms of the court ordered consent decree, park management has the discretion to take necessary and appropriate measures for protection of breeding birds.  The closure of Ramp 23 is a result of three consecutive deliberate violations in the past week with the first violation documented on June 27, 2009.

NPS law enforcement personnel continue to investigate these incidents.  If anyone has information about any of these violations, please call Dare Community Crime Line at 252-473-3111.  Destruction of government property and entering a resource closure are federal criminal violations, each subject up to a $5,000.00 fine and up to six months imprisonment.

For up-to-date information on currently open or closed areas, check the Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s Google Earth maps at:   http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm