North Carolina's US senators have re-introduced a bill that would allow off-road vehicles more access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Republican Senator Richard Burr and Democratic Senator Kay Hagan filed a proposal last week to reinstate rules that open most of the seashore to four-by-fours without a permit. Senator Hagan says the bill represents a compromise between protecting the national park and supporting local businesses that run tours of the beach.
"There will still be limitations," Hagan says, "but I think it will be able to allow the people who live there locally and have their businesses to have greater access to the beaches, still with an environmental protection."
Senator Burr agrees the bill would stimulate the local economy and has enough environmental oversight. Environmental groups say the bill is unnecessary because local tourism revenue is up and more off-road vehicles would put sea turtles and their nests in danger.
