Senate committee upholds driving rules for Hatteras

WASHINGTON - Hatteras Island beach drivers lost a fight today when a Senate committee rejected their efforts to open more miles of beaches to off-road vehicles.

The panel voted down a bill by Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole that would have overturned new rules restricting beach driving along Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

The regulations by the National Park Service are designed to protect endangered and threatened sea turtle and bird species, including the piping plover. The turtles and birds nest on the sandy beaches.

The National Park Service says the rules, implemented in spring, have already improved the survival rates of piping plovers.

But local anglers have been outraged at some of the restrictions. Miles of Hatteras Island beaches - including some of the area's best fishing spots -- are accessible only by off-road vehicles. Businesses have complained that the rules are hurting tourism. The Dare County Board of Commissioners supports Burr and Dole's bill.

The bill failed 11-12 along party lines, with Democrats voting against it, in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Burr is a member of that panel.

The vote came just as the House of Representatives was holding its own hearing about the bill at the same time. U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, whose district includes Cape Hatteras National Seashore, sponsored a House version of the Senate bill.

The House committee has not voted on the bill.

Burr spokesman Chris Walker said sponsors are disappointed, but that Burr remained committed to finding a way to get the legislation passed.

The rules were established as part of a consent decree agreed to by environmental groups, Dare County and beach off-road vehicle users. The court decree was approved by U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle.