National Park Service and Army Corps respond after petroleum reappears at Buxton; county approves groin contract

Dave Halleck, superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, told the Dare County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 that renewed erosion at the Buxton formerly used defense site has exposed residual petroleum and produced “very strong odors and sheens actively washing into the ocean.” The National Park Service closed about one mile of the beach as a precaution while the Army Corps of Engineers and other federal partners respond.

Halleck said the Navy and Coast Guard, which operated the site decades ago, left petroleum contamination that the Army Corps previously began cleaning. “They removed over 4,600 cubic yards of petroleum‑contaminated soil. They removed almost a 100,000 gallons of petroleum‑contaminated groundwater,” Halleck said, adding that the Corps had told park staff it had not removed all contamination and planned comprehensive sampling. He said the site’s exposure worsened after a recent northeasterly swell eroded protective sand.

Why it matters: the Buxton site sits on Cape Hatteras National Seashore immediately north of the original lighthouse location and is exposed to a high‑energy coastline. Exposed petroleum can create public‑health and environmental risks and can wash contaminants into surf zones used by residents and visitors.

What officials said and did: Halleck said the Army Corps’ Savannah District was dispatching leadership to inspect the site and that the Park Service had called an interagency regional response team meeting including EPA and state officials. “We notified the Army Corps of Engineers. We notified the United States Coast Guard,” Halleck said, and added the Corps “is fully engaged.” Brian Harris, co‑chair of the site’s Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), told commissioners community RAB members will continue to meet and monitor Corps activity.

Separately at the same meeting the board approved a budget amendment and contract for work tied to Buxton shoreline management. The board voted to transfer $288,320 from the county’s beach‑nourishment reserve to pay Coastal Science & Engineering for construction management and bidding services for the planned Buxton groin repair. County staff said the same funds will also help cover design and construction management connected to the 2026 Buxton beach nourishment project.

What’s next: the Corps is expected to carry out more sampling to define the remaining contamination and to plan remediation. The Park Service said it will continue to coordinate with the Corps, EPA and state agencies and that the RAB will remain active. The county’s newly authorized contract will fund the consultant to manage bidding and construction phases for the groin repair and related work.

Quotes and attributions

“We had very strong odors and sheens actively washing into the ocean,” Dave Halleck said, describing the erosion‑related exposure that prompted the precautionary beach closure. Halleck also summarized earlier cleanup work: “They removed over 4,600 cubic yards of petroleum‑contaminated soil. They removed almost a 100,000 gallons of petroleum‑contaminated groundwater.”

Ending

County and federal officials said they will continue daily coordination while the Corps completes sampling and prepares further cleanup work. The Army Corps’ Savannah District commander and deputy engineer were reported en route to the Outer Banks, and the Park Service scheduled an interagency regional response meeting to seek immediate, short‑term measures while sampling and long‑term remediation are planned.