Popular NC beach reopened for vehicles

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: August 28, 2008

Updated: 08/28/2008 08:36 am

NAGS HEAD
A popular beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks that has been closed to off-road vehicles has been reopened by the National Park Service in time for Labor Day weekend visitors.
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore said today that the area known as Bodie Island Spit is open to give fishermen access to Oregon Inlet.
The area had been closed since spring to protect endangered shorebird nests.
Park officials say the shoreline on Bodie Island is open for 2 miles north and south of Ramp 4 near the inlet.
Some interior sections of the land will remain restricted and will be marked with signs. All shoreline in the park is closed to vehicles after 10 p.m.
Park officials say visitors still will see shifting beach closures in the fall to protect remaining bird nests as well as sea turtle nests that will hatch in the fall.
Closures began in the spring as part of an agreement to end a lawsuit brought by environmental groups against the park service. Environmentalists contended the park service wasn't aggressive enough to protect endangered species.
The park service is working through a process to develop a permanent protection plan.