On R.B.P. today............ -----Original Message----- Newsgroups: rec.boats.paddle Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 6:13 PM >Seashore bans personal watercraft > >The park service responds to complaints about personal watercraft in the >Cape Hatteras National Seashore. > >MANTEO -- Citing overwhelming opposition to >jet-powered personal watercraft, federal officials will ban the speedy >little >vessels from about 160 miles of Outer Banks shoreline in the Cape Hatteras >National Seashore. Beginning May 17, the craft will be prohibited on >ocean beaches and along most of the National Seashore's sound side >shoreline from Nags Head to Ocracoke. They will still be allowed on private >property in seaside villages where private companies rent and sell them. > >The ban includes sandbars along Oregon Inlet that have become prime >launching and landing sites for PWC riders in the summer. During a survey >July 4, 1997, a park ranger on the Herbert Bonner Bridge >over the inlet counted about 200 PWCs in the area, Chief Ranger Jeff Cobb >said Wednesday. He said the park service has received numerous complaints >from fishermen and others about noise and interference from PWC riders. >"That's probably the leading cause of complaints in the summer," >he said. > >But Bill Meredith, who sells and rents PWC in Nags Head, said the ban goes >too far and would unfairly restrict people who ride the craft responsibly. >He said the federal agency could establish a permit system that would allow >PWC users to operate within the Seashore, with those who violated operating >rules having their permits revoked. The craft -- known by trade names of >Jet Ski, Sea Doo and Wave Runner -- have become widely popular in recent >years, but some communities have moved to restrict their operation because >of complaints. > >Legislation pending in the General Assembly would set a minimum age of 13 >for PWC riders. According to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, 102 >of the 251 boating accidents in the state last year involved PWCs. Five >people died in PWC accidents, the commission said. Seashore officials >said the ban came after a review of scientific, sociological and >demographic data and a public comment >period in February and March. Seashore Superintendent Bob Reynolds said >the response was about >11-to-1 against PWC use. "When you factor in user conflicts with the >threats to safety, resources and park values, only one conclusion can be >reached: >PWCs must be prohibited," he said. > >Of 1,034 persons who responded, 948 opposed continued PWC use in the >Seashore. While some opponents said they would accept some form of PWC >regulation, most favored a total ban. Of the 1,034 >respondents, 280 were Dare County residents or landowners and most -- by a >10-to-1 margin -- opposed PWCs. Meredith, operator of a PWC business since >1985, scoffed at the reliability of the park service's opinion poll. And he >suggested a survey taken during the winter, when fishermen are the primary >beach users, would be different from one in summer, when PWCs are active. >The closing will prohibit launching or landing PWCs on any ocean or sound >side beaches in the Seashore -- an area that takes in about 80 miles on >each side of the islands. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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