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The National Park Service reported on Thursday morning, September 5, that “over the last 24-36 hours, several feet of sand have been washed away from an area of beach in front of the Buxton Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore). Soil and groundwater that is apparently contaminated with petroleum from historic military use of the site is now exposed to the beachfront during low tide, and wave action during high tide.”

CHNS staff have reported observations of the petroleum exposure to the National Response Center, operated by the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and other State of North Carolina agencies that assist with pollution response. CHNS has also requested assistance from the Regional Response Team, an interagency team that can help coordinate response and provide technical advice during oil spills or pollution events.

“Additionally, erosion has uncovered significant quantities of hazardous remnant Navy and Coast Guard infrastructure, such as concrete, rebar, wires, PVC and metal pipes, metal fragments, and cables that have been left in the ground,” stated CHNS.

Shortly after the Thursday morning notification sent on erosion, CHNS issued a news release on the expansion of the size of a previously closed beach area by approximately 0.25 miles in Buxton.

“The precautionary expansion, implemented in consultation with the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services, closes the beach from the southern end of the location of beachfront homes in the village of Buxton, located at the end of Old Lighthouse Road, to approximately 0.25 miles south of the old lighthouse jetties. The closure includes the beachfront in front of the southern groin and the Old Lighthouse Beach parking areas. The closure may change over the coming days based on ongoing field observations,” noted the release.

On the morning of September 5, CHNS rangers “noticed strong petroleum smells along Old Lighthouse Beach, near the Buxton Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). The odors were impacting the area due to the strong northeast winds and erosion which is apparently exposing historic petroleum contamination at the FUDS.” Observations were reported to the National Response Center Thursday morning.

Historical information about the former military site is located at go.nps.gov/buxtonbeach. Recent and historical photos of the site can be found in the CHNS Buxton Beach Access photo album.

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