Grant 1.5 million for CNWR for buying part of Maddox for offsite parking has been expressed in the local papers for emergency parking.  We all have to wake up !!!

here is a response from Scott Riggell

Date: January 18, 2012 Contact: Kim Mosser This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (202) 225-4215

Calls News a ‘Mockery’ of the Public Process Laid out by Law

Washington – Consistent with his ongoing commitment to preserving the existing parking arrangement at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, today Representative Scott Rigell (VA-02) responded to news that the CNWR had been awarded a $1.5 million federal grant to build a park-and-ride, a project that would lead to the removal of on-site beach parking.

“The CNWR’s move to purchase land and develop a park-and-ride with the ultimate intent to keep vehicles away from the beach is pre-mature and contradictory to their claims of an open decision process involving local and economic interests,” Rigell said.  “The CNWR appears to be making decisions before a transparent process can occur.  That is wrong.”

Yesterday, Rigell sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, expressing his frustration:  “In my view this grant lends credibility to the town’s fears that Refuge managers have already decided on their plan and that the public process is nothing more than a pro forma exercise with a foregone conclusion. This makes a mockery of the NEPA process and the intent of Congress. To be clear, I see this as a classic example of a paternalistic federal government imposing its will without regard for the will or economic well being of the people,” the letter says.  The letter goes on to ask specific questions and requests a response by Tuesday, January 24.

The full text of the letter is below:

January 17, 2012

Mr. Dan Ashe
Director
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive Mailstop 330
Arlington, VA 22203

Dear Director Ashe,

I was disturbed to receive notification today that the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) applied for and was awarded a $1.5 million dollar Federal Transportation Administration grant through the Sarbanes Transit in Parks program for a “Chincoteague Park and Ride Facility”. This project is not supported by the local community and is blatantly out of order with respect to the Refuge’s ongoing Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). Moving this project forward ahead of the CCP undermines the integrity of the public process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and raises a number of ethical questions.

As you may know, the CNWR is home to a very popular and easily accessible public beach, which makes Chincoteague one of the most visited attractions in the Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge attracts nearly 1.5 million visitors per year, due in no small part to the exceptional accessibility of the public beach. The economy of the Town of Chincoteague depends heavily on tourist dollars brought in by beachgoers. Consequently, the town is very sensitive to potential changes within the Refuge.

More than a year ago, Chincoteague officials made me aware of their concerns that Refuge managers plan to use the NEPA mandated fifteen year CCP to significantly alter beach access by replacing the current parking lot with a transit system which would require beachgoers to park off site and take a shuttle to and from the beach. Town officials adamantly oppose such a system which would cause a significant decline in tourism and economic activity in the town.

While NEPA requires a public, open, and transparent CCP process, town officials have expressed their concern that Refuge managers seem intent on installing a transit system without regard for the will of the public or the local economy. I have met with Refuge Manager Lou Hinds multiple times and each time he has assured me that these concerns are not warranted.

In my view this grant lends credibility to the town’s fears that Refuge managers have already decided on their plan and that the public process is nothing more than a pro forma exercise with a foregone conclusion. This makes a mockery of the NEPA process and the intent of Congress. To be clear, I see this as a classic example of a paternalistic federal government imposing its will without regard for the will or economic well being of the people.

I expect an immediate and clear answer to the following questions:

1.      My staff and I have been in constant contact with Lou Hinds for the past year. In that time he failed to mention that he had applied for this grant. Why?
2.      The CNWR is purchasing property for a “Chincoteague Park and Ride Facility” while the official CCP is still in its early stages. In light of this, how can anyone be expected to have confidence in the public process? How can we believe serious consideration is being given to draft alternatives that do not call for a public transit system?
3.      What weight do local economic considerations carry in the CCP process?
4.      If the beach parking is replaced with a Park and Ride Facility, will Refuge visits decline? If so, what will be the level of decline? How will this impact the Chincoteague economy?
5.      If the final CCP eliminates all or some of the beach parking, one result will likely be loss of local jobs. How many lost jobs does the FWS consider acceptable?

Please respond to these questions in detail by Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

Anyone who has spent any time in Chincoteague understands intuitively that the local economy is inextricably linked to the public beach. I take it as a given that any conservation plan which makes the beach more difficult to access will drive tourists away causing fewer people to partake in all that Chincoteague has to offer. Businesses will suffer and jobs will be lost. I will do everything in my capacity as a Member of Congress to prevent that from happening.

Yours in Freedom,

Scott Rigell
Member of Congress

http://www.scottrigell.com/talk-to-me/

We are getting ready for the upcoming flounder tournament.  Jacob Cottingham @ risingtidesolutions.com designed our new banner with some familiar faces above.

Billy Chesser  caught this one trolling off Cedar Island Saturday photo courtesy of Capt. Paul.

Shane and dad Elvie were rocking on Sunday with these 2 nice stripers!

Shane and dad Elvie were rocking on Sunday with these 2 nice stripers!

Shane and dad Elvie were rocking on Sunday with these 2 nice stripers!

Shane and dad Elvie were rocking on Sunday with these 2 nice stripers!

Shane and dad Elvie were rocking on Sunday with these 2 nice stripers!

I can not believe we are in January and still having some great weather.  It will not be long before the Spring Flounder will be here.  I am getting thing set up as we speak and will comtinually post to our upcoming event some mark your calandars for May 11 - 20th.  We have been getting in some new fishing tackle some orange mylar EC flounder rigs.  Also some custom made snelled spinner bladed in chartruce, white, and pink.  We are still around the shop and hours are cut back but we have the regulars in for coffee every morning and still some good cooked family meals.  Thats the report for now.  Tight Lines!  Look for us at the Frederick Md fishing flea market Jan 21st, we will be traveling to the New Market, Md to sell some tackle.

Letter from VMRC on flounder proposals

Last night the recreational summer flounder ad hoc committee met at VMRC to discuss 2012 management measures and Rob and I want to provide you with information on that meeting.

While landings in Virginia were 53% under target in 2011, we are still held to an 18% decrease in our 2012 target (quota) due to coast-wide issues with overfishing.  The good news is that the population’s spawning stock biomass has reached the restored target of 132.4 million pounds.  The 2012 target has been established as 466,000 summer flounder.  Because the 2011 landings are estimated at 268,684 fish, we are able to liberalize our landings by 74% in order to attain the 2012 quota.   In 2011, Virginia’s recreational management measures included a 17 ½” minimum size limit, a 4 fish possession limit, and no closed season.

Please see the attached word document, with detailed information about tables and files presented at last night’s meeting.  Also attached is the zip file containing the files presented in last night’s packet, labeled by page number.

At last night’s meeting, attendees expressed their concern that Virginia landings continue to fall short of our targets (2011 marked the fourth consecutive year of being under quota). While the group understands that paybacks will occur beginning in 2013, should the coast-wide ACL (annual catch limit) be exceeded, everyone was in agreement that perhaps being less conservative than in the past can serve Virginia well in 2012.  Effort trends were also an important topic of this meeting.

The four options recommended by the ad hoc committee members to go forward are as follows, with the most support for the 16 ½” option:

16 ½” min. size, 4 fish possession limit

17” min. size, 5 fish

17” min. size, 4 fish

17 ½” min. size, 5 fish

All options assume no closed season in 2012.

State draft proposals are due to ASMFC technical committee on the 18^th of January.   The Finfish Management Advisory Committee (FMAC) will meet on January 23^rd, and these options will be explained to that group for their input as well.  On the 24^th, a request for public hearing will be made at the VMRC Commission meeting.  The proposal will be presented to the ASMFC technical committee at its meeting on the 25^th in Baltimore.  The ASMFC Management Board will review the TC recommendations at its Alexandria meeting on February 8^th, and the final option(s) will be presented to the VMRC Commission at a public hearing on February 24^th.

We will continue to seek any additional input or advice from the ad hoc group leading up to the ASMFC meeting, as discussions continue.  Thank you to everyone who came out last night or sent a proxy.

Drew Cooper brings in the New Year right double fisting 2 nice stripers taken on New Years Day!

Drew Cooper brings in the New Year right double fisting 2 nice stripers taken on New Years Day!

Drew, Jow, and Vin had a good day on New Years with some nice fish pictured here.

Drew, Jow, and Vin had a good day on New Years with some nice fish pictured here.

Frank Hornig with a 33'' striped bass taken off the Assateague Surf. This one was taken with a fishfinder rig and bunker chunk. Frank did his own polar plunge as the fish got off right at his feet and he jumped in after the fish and got it. Congrats on your fish!

Frank Hornig with a 33'' striped bass taken off the Assateague Surf.  This one was taken with a fishfinder rig and bunker chunk.  Frank did his own polar plunge as the fish got off right at his feet and he jumped in after the fish and got it.  Congrats on your fish!

Big Fish Brad"Baltimore Brad" living up to his name with another nice striper.

Big Fish Brad"Baltimore Brad" living up to his name with another nice striper.

Dustin Mears takes some time off school to do some hunting.

Dustin Mears takes some time off school to do some hunting.

Justin and Stanley with a canadian goose!

Justin and Stanley with a canadian goose!

Tommy Daisey's troghy striped bass this was done by Lee Bachmann Taxisermy, he has won many awards and recreated this trohy striper from a photo taken with its demensions. Beautiful mount that will last a lifetime!

Tommy Daisey's troghy striped bass this was done by  Lee Bachmann Taxisermy,  he has won many awards and recreated this trohy striper from a photo taken with its demensions.  Beautiful mount that will last a lifetime!