Rep. Jones Reintroduces Bill to Help North Topsail Beach

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release:

Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) reintroduced H.R. 4692, legislation that would correct a 30-year old federal mapping error that incorrectly prohibited a substantial portion of North Topsail Beach from accessing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and other disaster assistance. In 1982, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) - enacted to discourage development of previously undeveloped U.S. coastal areas - incorrectly classified North Topsail Beach as "undeveloped," thus making the area ineligible to access the NFIP. H.R. 4692 would direct the Secretary of Interior to correct the CBRA map for North Topsail Beach.

"North Topsail Beach has provided extensive documentation to show that in 1982, the area was already under development," said Congressman Jones. "As a matter of fairness, it is time to correct this error."

The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee for further action. A similar bill - S. 1745 - has been introduced in the Senate by North Carolina senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr.