THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 14, 1994 TAG: 9408110378
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 59 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
It was once said, ``with friends like these, who needs enemies?'' Certainly the environmental ``Friends' of Hatteras Island'' fall within the scope of that epithet.
In the August issue of the Island Breeze is a report on the legal tactics being employed by ``Friends'' against the favorable action by the Coastal Resources Commission. So far those actions have resulted in an unsupported delay of already purchased water rights with the related effect of a slowdown in the economic growth on Hatteras Island.
It seems to me that the Cape Hatteras Water Association has done everything within its power and has in fact leaned over backwards to reach a settlement with Friends. It is also apparent that Friends is using liberal court decisions to hide behind, and from the outset has not been willing to compromise even though the building of new roads (Friends' original objection) has been eliminated from the ChWA well expansion plan.
There are health issues involved in this matter but that doesn't seem to move our Friendcs from their delaying tactics; in fact, it says, let our residents drink impure water.
The major area of my concern in this matter is that Friends have maneuvered this outside the local arena where it could have been settled by real friends and neighbors. A strictly local issue that should never have left our island shores has once more been moved by Friends into the legal morass of the state and federal domain. Decisions for Friends are now being made by lawyers and radical environmentalists whose interests lie outside of Hatteras Island.
I urge Friends to recapture control of this issue, take it away from outside interests and expensive lawyers. Among other things, money that has been committed by CHWA to fight this matter comes out of all our pockets, those Friends who live on the island are paying twice, once to Friends' lawyers and once to related higher taxes and water usage fees. Think about that. I already have and I don't like it.
Danny Gray
Avon
Chairman, Dare County Republican Party by CNB