ORLEANS – The discussion over ownership, and as a result, use of ORVs on Nauset Spit continues.
The spit used to be entirely in Orleans, which allows the use of ORVs. But over the years it has migrated into Eastham, which does not allow ORVs.
That migration has gotten the National Park Service involved in the discussion.
“The Park Service believes we actually own the property north of the Orleans town line in parcels that were actually procured by the United States back in the 1960’s,” said George Price, Superintendent of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Price says the Seashore will support Eastham if they choose to enforce their no ORV by-law, and will also support them if they choose to acquiesce when it comes to the spit as they have recently done. He says the Seashore would get involved should Eastham officially change its stance on ORVs.
“I’ve informed both Selectmen that if that in fact happened, that would be a game-changer as far as the National Park Service is concerned because now it would require a positive decision on our part as opposed to just acquiescing to something,” Price said.
Selectmen in Eastham and Orleans will hold a joint meeting on the matter tonight
