NPS to Allow Videotaping of 8th Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Meeting

Date: November 3, 2008
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-473-2111 ext. 148

Superintendent Mike Murray announces the decision to permit Dare County to videotape the upcoming 8^th meeting of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee.  The 2-day meeting is scheduled to be held at Wright Brothers National Memorial on November 14-15, 2008.  The videotaping will be authorized under the terms and conditions of a special use permit. The purpose of the videotaping is to provide video documentation of the meeting to share with the public via Dare and Hyde County government access television channels and via the web.

The National Park Service believes that videotaping will:
·Enhance the transparency and openness of the process
·Provide the public as a whole an opportunity to observe the proceedings
·Provide a means for educating interested parties about the proceedings and issues
·Provide an opportunity for the Committee to show its diligence, civility, and hard work on the important issues before the Committee

There have been concerns expressed about allowing videotaping at this time, in the middle of the process. The concerns expressed include:
·The potential to focus on individuals and their comments, rather than on the substance of the issues at hand (focus on the problem, not the people)
·The potential to encourage grandstanding to and in front of the camera
·The potential to inhibit open dialogue, creative ideas, and general discussion
·The Committee did not reach consensus on reversing the decision, made at the beginning of the negotiated rulemaking process, to not allow videotaping

To address these concerns, the NPS will work with the County to issue a Special Permit that meets the needs of transparency, openness, and support of, rather than hindrance to, the work of the Committee.

“This has been a very difficult decision,” said Superintendent Mike Murray. “I believe the concerns expressed about potential negative impacts of videotaping are real. After careful consideration and consultation with many, I have determined that the benefits of permitting videotaping do outweigh the real costs. Based on the email messages and phone calls that we receive on a regular basis, there is a need for accurate information about beach access, the negotiated rulemaking process, and the legal mandates that must be met by NPS in the ORV management plan. Videotaping will allow many more people to observe the meeting discussion, hear the different points of view, and judge them for themselves. Ultimately, NPS must weigh the benefits of transparency and broad public outreach against the effectiveness of the committee and its intent and purpose. NPS has determined that potential benefits of videotaping outweigh the potential negative impacts on the negotiation process. We will take it one meeting at a time to ensure my assessment of the issue is accurate and will re-evaluate the situation, as needed, after the November meeting.”