Is this the conclusion to a story we've been following closely?
After seven years of court fights and compromise, more than 2,000 acres of seashore along the Outer Banks were deemed critical wintering habitat for piping plovers, a rare shorebird.
Beach drivers now wonder how the designation will affect them, and groups that oppose it want federal regulators to reconsider the move.
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The final Fish and Wildlife rule designates about 2,043 acres of seashore at Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Hatteras Inlet and Ocracoke Island as critical wintering habitat for piping plovers.
The area covered has been reduced substantially from the original proposal. The critical wintering habitat now also includes state-owned spoil islands and Bodie Island and Hatteras Inlet spits.
"It really will not have any impact on what's done with the beach driving in Cape Hatteras," said Patty Matteson, a spokeswoman for the Raleigh field office of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
"People are not going to see any impact from this. It doesn't set up a refuge. It's not going to stop activities that have been ongoing."
