The federally appointed group of 30 stakeholders who are charged with negotiating long-term off-road-vehicle regulations for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will have a third meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18 and 19, at the Avon Fire Hall.

The meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. each day and end at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

The public is invited to attend the meetings, and time is set aside at noon each day for public comment.

Agenda items include mapping existing activities, access, and closures; discussing seasonal and natural resource closures; identifying issues and potential recommendations; socio-economic impact and survey, and discussion in small groups of beach carrying capacity and permits and passes.

The final draft agenda for the meetings is:
 






NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING COMMITTEE
3rd Regulatory Negotiation Meeting
Avon Fire Hall, Avon, NC

Draft Final Agenda
March 18-19, 2008

GOALS
•    Balance opening up discussion and understanding of issues with seeking potential solutions and agreements
•    Jointly map existing activities, access and closures
•    Discuss “seasonal” and “natural resource” closures
•    Identify issues, potential recommendations, and seek agreement, where possible
•    Develop and organize work for coming months
•    Obtain input from the public


DAY I

8:00-Breakfast

8:30-Welcome to All and Opening of the Meeting, Mike Murray, NPS, Designated Federal Official (DFO)

8:45-Review agenda, Facilitators and Agenda Planning Committee
Review and approve February meeting summary, Facilitators

9:00-Mapping current uses (people, birds and turtles, etc.), access, closures

• The Committee will build a common understanding of how the beach is used currently by people, birds, turtles, etc. through jointly viewing maps and discussing areas of use, access (locations and kinds), and closure
• Once the current situation has been identified, the group may discuss understanding of past closures and openings prior to the present conditions
• Identify areas of agreement and areas in dispute for further discussion

10:30-Break

10:45-Continue joint “mapping”

12:00-Public Comment
Specific comments are requested on the following --

• What are the most important issues about uses, access or closures and why?
• What information does the Committee need to address these issues?

12:30-Lunch

1:15-Report from Seasonal Closure Work Group
Topics discussed

• Identify and discuss major issues
• Seek agreement, to the extent possible, on definitions, dates and times, etc.
• Next steps

3:00-Break

3:15-Natural Resource Closures

• NPS provides background presentation on how natural resource closures are currently managed, and implications of pending litigation
• Identify and discuss major issues
• Identify next steps to continue exploring issues and identifying options

5:00-Summary of Day and Closing Remarks

5:30-Adjourn

7:15-Socio-Economic Subcommittee Meeting and Discussion (?)


DAY II

8:00-Breakfast

8:30-Review of Day I and Day II Agenda

8:45-Work Group meetings

• Vehicle characteristics, Carrying Capacity, Permits/Passes
• Other (?)

10:00-Break

10:15-Reports from Work Groups and Economic Subcommittee

• Summary of discussions
• Identify recommendations, if any, and key topics for further discussion
• Seek agreement, where possible, on specific issues

12:00-Public Comment
Specific comments are requested on the following --

• Issues and potential options for ORV management due to natural resource closures
• Issues raised in Work Groups or Socio-Economic Subcommittee

12:30-Working Lunch

1:15-Continue discussion of Day 1 Issues or topics from Work Groups/Subcommittee

2:30-Break        

2:45-Planning for future meetings

• Prioritize key issues for further discussion
• Work Groups, Socio-economic Subcommittee, additional subcommittees?
• Agenda topics for next meeting -- May
• Action items
• Other?

3:45-Summary and Closing Remarks

4:00-Adjourn