Beach driving areas on NC Outer Banks reopen

BUXTON, N.C. -- The National Park Service says the most popular off-road vehicle areas at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the North Carolina Outer Banks have reopened. The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk reported that only small sections of beach remain closed to protect nesting seabirds. The National Park Service Outer Banks Group says that South Beach and South Point reopened last weekend. South Beach is located near Buxton on Hatteras Island and South Point is located on Ocracoke Island. Nearly all of Bodie Island Spit also is open to off-road vehicles. Beach closures are required by a settlement between the park service and environmental groups that sued over protection of endangered species. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)