"The threatened piping plovers of Cape Hatteras National Seashore already face lots of obstacles to breeding and survival. Now add three more: North Carolina's two U.S. senators, Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole, plus U.S. Rep. Walter Jones."

The News & Observer (Raleigh), June 15, 2008

Two Steps Forward, One Leap Back?   You can help protect imperiled loggerhead turtles like this by taking action now. The emergency plan to protect wildlife at Cape Hatteras National Seashore is working.  Don't let Congress turn back the clock. Take action now to let your elected officials in Congress know that you oppose this short-sighted legislation. Help spread the word. Forward this message to friends and family who want to ensure Cape Hatteras is protected for future generations.

Dear Michael,

A few months ago, a federal judge approved an emergency plan to protect the fragile ecosystems of Cape Hatteras while the Park Service develops long-overdue driving rules for these special beaches -- a huge victory for wildlife and the people who care about protecting this amazing place.

Now there's legislation on the table aimed at overriding this plan and turning back the clock on Hatteras.

Take action now to let your elected officials know that you oppose this bill - and to show you support science over special interests.

Anyone who's ever been to Hatteras cares about protecting it for future generations. But the truth is, the Cape Hatteras we all know and love could disappear forever if we don’t protect it now.

If this new federal legislation passes, it would be an enormous step backward for Cape Hatteras and a return to the failed management strategy that has degraded these special beaches and forced the shorebirds, turtles and other imperiled wildlife that depend on them to pay the price.

Not only that, it would set a dangerous precedent by attacking the laws that safeguard our parks and seashores.

These beaches -- and the imperiled turtles and birds that depend on them -- can't afford to take a step backward: they're in crisis now.  Take action now to oppose this short-sighted legislation. 

On any given day during peak season, as many as 2,200 vehicles line Cape Hatteras's long string of shoreline. During nesting season, these vehicles may damage or destroy the nests of already-imperiled shorebirds and turtles, pushing them closer to extinction.

In the last decade alone, birds that were once common on these shores have declined by an average of 86%.

The court-approved emergency plan has put much needed protections in place and is the result of collaboration and consensus among local residents, environmental groups, scientists, fishers and a coalition of ORV groups called the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance who all share one goal: protecting this special place.

And it's working. Since some of the most sensitive areas were closed to vehicles, birds like the piping plover and the American oystercatcher have been bouncing back.

We all know that Cape Hatteras is worth protecting.  But some elected officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are bowing to pressure from special interests to turn back the clock on wildlife -- and risking the long-term health of Hatteras in the process. 

Basing decisions on how to manage Cape Hatteras on the desires of a handful of special interests would be a disservice to the wildlife and natural resources this national seashore was established to protect -- not to mention the thousands of locals and visitors alike who enjoy these beaches every year.

That's why it's so important that they hear from you.  Take action now to let your elected officials know know you oppose this legislative ploy and support the current path to progress.

With your help, we can protect this cherished natural treasure and the imperiled turtles, shorebirds and other imperiled wildlife that depend on it to survive.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Mary Beth Beetham Director of Legislative Affairs Defenders of Wildlife

The Facts about Beach Driving and the Emergency Plan:

• Under the emergency plan, more than one third of the Seashore's 66 miles of beach remain open for driving, and about 83% are open to pedestrians, according to the National Park Service's June 5 access report.
• Only about 18% of the beach is closed to provide emergency protection for some of Cape Hatteras's most sensitive areas; the other closures are based on routine seasonal or safety needs.
• The emergency plan was developed to be flexible, with temporary closures that can be lifted and reopened to vehicles once wildlife is no longer using certain areas. Already, some areas have been reopened this season.