2012 OBPA Annual Members Meeting
7:00 p.m. Friday, October 12, 2012
Cape Hatteras Anglers Club
47231 Light Plant Road
Buxton, NC 27920

Dear OBPA Members;

The Outer Banks Preservation Association will hold its annual members meeting on Friday October 12, 2012 at the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, 47231 Light Plant Road Buxton N.C. 27920 at 7:00 pm. The annual meeting will consist of a report from the president for the prior year  and up-to-date informational reports to the membership by the Officers and committees. No business will be conducted at this meeting. Minutes of the meeting will be posted at www.obpa.org. After the meeting, the Board of Directors will answer any questions members might have. Hope to see you there.

 Respectfully,

 John Couch
 President OBPA

Quick 2012 Highlights:

Legislative Action:

 House of Representatives:

• House Bill H.R. 4094, Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act, was introduced by Congressman Walter B. Jones on February 28, 2012.
• The House Subcommittee on National Park, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 4094 on April 27, 2012.  OBPA President John Couch and Dare County Commissioners Chairman Warren Judge were invited witnesses who provided testimony at this hearing in Washington, D.C.
• H.R. 4094 was combined with thirteen other bills into a package as H.R. 2578 - The Conservation and Economic Growth Act". 
• Bill H.R. 2578 was passed by the full House of Representatives on June 19^th, 2012 and forwarded to the Senate. 

Senate:

• Senate Bill S.2372, Preserving Public Access to Cape Hatteras Beaches Act, was introduced by Senators' Hagan and Burr on April 26, 2012.
• The Senate Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S.2372 on June 27, 2012.  Dare County Commissioners Chairman Warren Judge was an invited witness who provided testimony at the hearing in Washington, D.C.
• S.2372 remains in committee as of the start of the fall recess.
• H.R. 2578, which was sent to the Senate after House passage, was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources where it remains as of the start of the fall recess.

What can you Do?

• Contact your Senators and urge them to engage with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to move this bill out of committee to the floor for full vote and passage during the legislative session that will occur immediately after the November election.

 Legal Action:

 CHAPA vs Salazar(DOI), Jarvis(NPS), Murray(CAHA) case 1:12-cd-00219 was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on February 9, 2012.

• The defendants delivered the Administrative Record to the court and plaintiffs on September 7, 2012 as instructed by the court.
• The attorneys for CHAPA are conducting a thorough review of the Administrative Record in preparation for the next phase of the case.

 Educational Efforts:

The OBPA has attempted to keep its membership and the public informed on the continuing events related to the above two actions as well as other matters relevant to access within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore through the following venues:

• • Website:  www.obpa.org 
  • Emails: via Constant Contact, permission-based, announcements and informational updates to members
  • Mailings: February 21, 2012 CHAPA newsletter covering the implementation of the Final ORV rule.

Visit www.obpa.org for the most current information on Free and Open Access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area