Public Comment Period Opens on Proposed ORV Rule for Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Date: July 7, 2011
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-473-2111

The National Park Service (NPS) announces that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the management of off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been published in the Federal Register (FR). The FR Notice officially initiates the 60-day public comment period on the Proposed Rule.

SUMMARY: The NPS proposes to designate routes where off-road vehicles (ORVs) may be used within Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore), North Carolina. Under NPS general regulations, the operation of motor vehicles off of roads within areas of the national park system is prohibited unless otherwise provided for by special regulation.  The proposed rule would manage ORV use at the Seashore to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources and natural processes, and provide a variety of safe visitor experiences while minimizing conflicts among various users.  The details of potential beneficial and adverse economic effects of the proposed rule can be found in the report entitled “Benefit-Cost Analysis ofProposed ORV Use Regulations in Cape Hatteras National Seashore” which is available online at https://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/caha.

DATES: The public comment period will be open for 60 days. Comments must be received on or before midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. The NPS does not anticipate extending the public comment period beyond September 6 due to a court deadline for completing the final rule.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Proposed Rule, identified by the Regulation Identifier Number: (RIN) 1024-AD85, by any of the following methods:

·      Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the instructions for submitting comments

·      Mail or hand deliver to: Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, North Carolina 27954.

Comments submitted through the Federal eRulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov or submitted by mail must be entered or postmarked before midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) September 6, 2011.  Comments submitted by hand delivery must be received by the close of business hours (5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) September 6, 2011.  Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any way other than those specified above, and bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: All submissions received must include the agency name and RIN for this rulemaking: 1024-AD85. All comments received through the Federal ERulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov  will be available without change. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment including your personal identifying information may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. To view comments received through the Federal eRulemaking portal, go to http://www.regulations.gov and enter “1024-AD85” in the “Keyword or ID” search box. 

For further information, call 252-473-2111, ext. 148.