Tonnes of ‘oil-soil’ and concrete removed from Buxton Beach naval site

BUXTON, N.C. — Several tons of concrete and oil-contaminated soil are being removed from a former naval base on the Outer Banks coast. The site is accused of spilling oil into the ocean since it was decommissioned in the 1980s. Erosion has exposed much of the base in recent years.

Contaminated soil to be removed after Buxton pollution escalates Army Corps action

As 10 On Your Side reported in a previous article, the pollution and hazards became so severe that the National Park Service closed this stretch of access to Buxton Beach in September 2023.

Access to Buxton Beach closed due to smell of oil and reflection in the water

More than a year later, excavation work began under pressure from the community and local leaders. In just a few weeks, the Army Corps of Engineers said contractors successfully removed at least 37,000 pounds of concrete, 400 feet of pipe, several dozen feet of thick cable and more than 45 cubic yards of this which they called “oil”. ground.”

Photos provided by Cape Hatteras National Seashore show black water and dark sand as they dig deep. A few weeks ago, when the Army Corps first announced the dig, it said removing the entire structure was not part of the plan. They are only licensed to remove oil-contaminated soil, but they will remove any obstructing structures.

Throughout October, the new Buxton Civic Association hired a Washington, D.C.-based law firm, Perkins Coie LLP. Their lawyers sent a letter to federal agencies showing excerpts from old documents, alleging they were responsible for removing the entire site and restoring the sand.

Buxton civic association forms to tackle pollution at former naval base

Our news team asked the Army Corps about this letter. They could only tell us that they had received it, but later confirmed in a press release that they would restore the sand at a later date. It remains unclear if and when the rest of the structure will be removed from the beach.

When 10 On Your Side spoke with Cape Hatteras Seashore Superintendent David Hallac, he told us he is pleased with the progress made so far.

“We also look forward to the work to characterize the site with respect to perhaps other areas of contamination and then any potential response actions that may be associated with it in the future,” Hallac said. “So things are moving in the right direction and we hope that the site will be fully cleaned in the future.”

Coast Guard teams recently inspected its own former facility, known as Old Group Cape Hatteras, according to the Army Corps. There, they found lead in soil and groundwater near a former small arms firing range. Plans to restore the site are underway, although no concrete timetable has been set.

The Army Corps has scheduled a meeting Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Fessenden Center in Buxton to update the public on its next steps at the former naval base.

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