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Budget Constraints Mean No Lifeguards At Cape Hatteras National Seashore In 2014

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Swimmers at three beaches at Cape Hatteras National Seashore will not have lifeguards watching over them next year. Kurt Repanshek photo.

Budget constraints dictated by Congress mean you'll be swimming at your own risk next year at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where officials will not be hiring lifeguards for three beaches that in the past have had the guards.

Outer Banks Group Superintendent Barclay Trimble said that cut, and others, were made necessary by the parks' current budget. In October, to re-open the government, Congress provided funds at Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 levels through January 15, 2014. Final funding for FY 2014 may not be resolved before then.

"Given our current budget realities and the uncertainty for the future, the National Park Service is exercising extreme caution in spending to ensure that available funding is directed towards the highest priorities," Superintendent Trimble said in a prepared statement.

The following operational changes will occur this fiscal year:

* Cape Hatteras National Seashore Visitor Centers located on Ocracoke Island and the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays from December 2, 2013, through mid-March to early April 2014.

* Lifeguard operations on all three lifeguarded beaches in the Seashore will be discontinued for FY 2014.

* Eight garbage dumpsters located adjacent to beach access ramps along NC Highway 12 will be replaced with smaller trash/recycling containers.

* Temporary structures at Wright Brothers National Memorial will be removed, providing substantial savings on utility and maintenance costs.

Other measures include reducing purchases of supplies and equipment, decreasing staff travel and training, and postponing vehicle procurement. There is also a likelihood of delaying the hiring of vacant positions.

"We wish we did not have to reduce our visitor services, and we know a lot of people will be disappointed, but we had to make some difficult decisions regarding park operations and priorities," said Superintendent Trimble. "The current budget situation does not allow us to have sufficient staff to keep the same number of hours and the degree of services as we have done in the past. We hope the situation changes and we will be able to return our visitor services to their former operating schedules in the future."

Comments

Beach, perhaps you can show us the numbers for Buxton over the past decade. According to the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, gross occupancy revenues are on a pace to roughly double since 2000, from $199.3 million to $370.6 million through the first nine months of 2013. It would seem logical that Buxton hotels/motels/B&Bs would enjoy some of that increase. As they say, a rising tide floats all boats...


Lee, it was an interesting time under superintendent Mr. Wayne Cone. Mr. Cone was sent in right after the Stoneman Meadow incident, I believe Mr. Hadley went onto Cape Cod. It was a time of turmoil, the politics of the riot incident, new company taking over from the old YP&C Company, etc., if my memory serves me correctly. There was much discussion of new development in the Yosemite Valley including the Wells Fargo Bank, now an art activities center. Mr. Cone was a very ethical and competent person, he got cross trails with the President Nixon administration by opposing the new development and Interior policy changes for the park. . His removal from the park was sudden, lacked any grace or respect for what he had accomplished and started us down on the slide of political appointees for the NPS Directors job along with the key Regional and Park managers. It was quite disconcerting to witness the events and Mr. Cone's removal from Yosemite. .


There is no logic in thinking that the Hatteras communities are not being negatively affected by the beach closures and excessive regulations. Hatteras businesses are reporting serious declines in the shoulder seasons and know this is directly related to the new NPS management policies. Tax increases, new McMansions and good weather during summer attribute to Dare's OVERALL revenue increases. The rising tide does not affect boats stuck in dry dock because of the NPS...


EC, interesting comment. I am not sure I understand your position on this issue. Our federal managers are bound by laws and policies mostly implemented in the 1930's under the F. Roosevelt administration. They include 8 hour days, overtime pay, child labor laws, well the list is quite lengthly. We may not be in agreement with all of them, fair enough, but a manager has both a legal duty and departmental ethical responsibility to adhere to them. The law can be changed, but I think it is disingenuous to suggest it is a "lame excuse". As Perpetual seasonal points out, there are those that do not follow the rules, I strongly agree with Perpetual seasonal that this should not be the case, but they are traveling down a dangerous slope. Many citizens sacrificed much to ensure common sense protections for employees, I do not think most of us would want a return to the days pre Fair Labor Standards Act.


Rmackie, i am the last to suggest one should disobey the law. But when someone quietly submits or even promotes a law, they can't use it as an excuse for bad behavior. Why aren't the NPS personel out aggressively fighting these restrictive regulations? I suspect they actually like them as it gives them good cover.

And I would love to eliminate the unemployment act.


Whereas others would like to eliminate unemployment. Your tea party no-nothing Congress is proud of no jobs bills.


Your tea party no-nothing Congress is proud of no jobs bills.

Really. Would you care to document that or just do another Lee like hit and run.

The entire Tea Party platform is positioned to stimulate jobs - by getting the government out of the way. You don't create jobs by burdensome regulations, healthcare mandates, minimum wages or other government intrusions.


Ok, we're starting to slide away from the subject at hand. Let's try to stay on topic, please.


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