Residents with concealed weapons permits can now carry their guns into Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Smoky Mountains National Park.

The U.S. Department of Interior issued new rules today allowing guns into national parks and wildlife refuges if residents also have concealed weapons permits in the state where the parks are located.
Previous regulations prevented firearms in national parks, even when a carrier held a concealed weapon permit, Barb Barrett reports.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican and a hunter, was among a bipartisan group of lawmakers pushing for change. He had co-sponsored legislation that would have allowed guns in parks.

"This is just to allow law-abiding citizens to continue to carry their weapon while they're in the national park, when the state allows them to carry anyway," said Burr spokesman Chris Walker.

The new rules do not allow target practice or the carrying of weapons into federal buildings.

Protesters greeted attendees of the Emerging Issues Forum.

Just outside the front door of N.C. State's McKimmon Center, a small group of members of environmental group N.C. WARN held signs saying "Dupe Energy."

Another sign was specifically aimed at Duke Energy head Jim Rogers. "Cancel Cliffside" it pleaded.

The Cliffside coal-fired power plant was recently given final approval by state regulators, though environmentalists have argued it will contribute to global warming and air pollution in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

At the door, N.C. WARN members handed out a one-page memo headlined "Green-Scam Alert."

It argued that Duke has "misled the public, media and elected leaders" on its concerns about global warming as well as the environmental impacts of the Cliffside plant. 

This year's forum is focusing on global warming and energy conservation. 

Dan Besse said the state made a mistake approving a new coal plant.

Earlier today, state regulators gave Duke Energy final approval to build a new power plant at Cliffside, about miles west of Charlotte that environmentalists have said will contribute to air pollution in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and global warming.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor told Dome that the the Division of Air Quality's argument that closing older units and offsetting the emissions will reduce pollutants is wrong. 

"Even if Duke were to follow through by offsetting the carbon emissions of the new large unit by closing a couple of additional plants or buying trade credits, the onstruction of the new unit still creates a large unnecessary net increase to our total greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

He said regulators have "fallen down on the job." 

Beverly Perdue says the Cliffside coal plant can wait.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate said the state Division of Air Quality should wait to approve a permit requested by Duke Energy for an 800-megawatt coal-fired plant in the Blue Ridge foothills.

Environmentalists are concerned the plant could lead to air pollution in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park and contribute to global warming. 

"North Carolina's priority must be on creating long-range goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on increasing energy efficiency and conservation," she said. 

Perdue also said she would work for a "green economy" as governor. 

Previously: Richard Moore calls for delay on Cliffside.  

Richard Moore says the Cliffside coal plant can wait.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate said today that state air quality regulators should wait to issue a permit for a new coal-fire plant.

"North Carolina should focus on new, efficient energy choices and conservation rather than building more high polluting, coal fired power plants,” he said in a statement.  "This type of plant should be a last resort, not a first option."

Moore argued that carbon dioxide emissions from the plant could contribute to global warming and damage air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Duke Energy plans to build the 800-megawatt coal-fired plant in the Blue Ridge foothills, but it needs a permit from the state Division of Air Quality.

Carl Mumpower says he is a true conservative.

In an interview with the Smoky Mountain News, the Asheville City Councilman says he would try to shrink the federal debt, target companies that employ illegal immigrants, reduce government's role in health care and help constituents navigate the federal government.

"Basically, Washington operates as a rigged lottery, almost without exception. It caters to special interests that betray the common interest," he said.

Earlier this month, Mumpower announced he would run for the Republican nomination to take on U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler.

In an aside, he also coined a word. He said he supports building the "road to nowhere" through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which Shuler opposed.

"I do not believe that the passage of time, pressure from envirojackers, or indulgence of Tennessee special interests is a foundation for violating our word," he told the paper.

Dome could not find any previously published news articles, Web sites or blogs with the word "envirojacker," but we assume its a portmanteau of "environment" and "hijacker."