Overview
Title
To revise the boundaries of a unit of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System in Topsail, North Carolina, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 2437 is like a rule change that says some parts of a beach area in North Carolina won't be in a special protected zone if they already have roads and services. The idea is to update a map to make it clear which parts won't be in this protected area.
Summary AI
H.R. 2437 is a bill that aims to change the borders of a part of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to exclude certain lots from this protected area if they were already served by infrastructure, specifically along North Carolina Highway 210 and New River Inlet Road, by a specific date. This change involves updating a map that was previously created in 2018.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
H.R. 2437, titled the "Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment," seeks to make specific alterations to the boundaries of a unit within the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) in Topsail, North Carolina. The proposed changes involve excluding certain lots in the area of North Topsail Beach that were serviced by infrastructure at the time of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act's enactment. The bill mandates that the Secretary of the Interior must update the relevant map within 30 days of the bill's passage, focusing on areas near North Carolina Highway 210 and New River Inlet Road.
Summary of Significant Issues
One major issue identified in relation to this bill is the potential for the map correction to favor certain property owners. By excluding specific lots from the Coastal Barrier Resources System, the bill might benefit particular stakeholders who could gain from not being subject to the protections and limitations imposed by the system. This raises questions about the equitable use of public resources and the motivations behind the proposed changes.
Additionally, the bill does not provide a detailed rationale for why these map adjustments are deemed necessary. This lack of justification could result in confusion and skepticism about whether the change addresses legitimate concerns or merely serves special interests.
The definition of "infrastructure" is also a point of concern due to its reliance on existing legislation, which might not provide sufficient clarity. This could lead to disputes over the eligibility of various infrastructures as relevant for the map correction, introducing legal and interpretative challenges.
Another issue is the feasibility of the 30-day timeline provided for making these corrections. Such a short deadline might not allow adequate time for thorough considerations, potentially leading to rushed decisions that could overlook important factors or result in errors.
Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
For the public at large, revising the CBRS boundaries could have both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, properties being removed from the system could see increased development opportunities, potentially boosting local economies. However, this might come at the cost of environmental protection and resilience to coastal hazards, which are central to the CBRS's purpose.
For specific stakeholders, such as the property owners whose land would be excluded from the CBRS, the bill could have substantial benefits. They might experience increased property values and development potential. Conversely, these changes might disproportionately affect other residents and stakeholders, particularly those who rely on the ecological integrity and storm protection function that the CBRS provides. This could spark community concern over fairness and environmental impact.
Overall, while the bill might advance certain economic goals for specific groups, it is crucial to consider the broader environmental and ethical implications, striving for a balance that serves the greater public interest while safeguarding critical natural resources.
Issues
Spending might favor certain property owners: The correction to the map in Section 2 aims to exclude certain lots in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, potentially benefiting specific property owners who could gain from being outside the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System. This could raise concerns about fairness and the use of public resources to potentially benefit private interests.
Lack of justification for map correction: Section 2 lacks a clear rationale explaining why the map correction is necessary, making it difficult for stakeholders to determine if the change is justified or whether it could result in unintended consequences such as wasteful spending.
Lack of clarity on 'infrastructure': In Section 2, subsection (c) defines infrastructure with references to existing legislation, yet the broad or unclear definition may create ambiguity about what qualifies as relevant infrastructure for this correction. This ambiguity might lead to disputes or legal challenges concerning the interpretation of eligible infrastructure.
Timeline feasibility: Section 2 imposes a 30-day deadline for map corrections, which might present feasibility challenges. The complexity of legal and logistical aspects could lead to hurried or insufficiently considered decisions, increasing the risk of errors.
Complexity and legal ambiguity: The language in Section 2 relies on references to other complex legal documents. This reliance may make the bill difficult for non-experts to understand, potentially impacting public transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill specifies that the official name of the act is the “Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment.”
2. Correction to map Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section directs the Secretary of the Interior to update a map within 30 days to remove certain areas from the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina. These areas, located near North Carolina Highway 210 and New River Inlet Road, were developed with infrastructure when the Coastal Barrier Resources Act was enacted.