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Buxton civic group and county outline progress on formerly used defense site cleanup and next remediation phase
Summary
Commissioners and community members described Phase 1 Army Corps cleanup work, formation of a civic association and plans for a Restoration Advisory Board to guide a more comprehensive Phase 2 remediation at the Buxton formerly used defense site (FUDS).
Dare County commissioners and members of the newly formed Buxton (Bucks Head) Civic Association described progress toward cleaning a shoreline site formerly used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard and outlined community calls for continued federal action.
Chairman Bob Woodard credited local advocates and county lobbying for recent federal attention and said the county passed a board resolution in March 2024 urging action. Residents and civic leaders described a one‑year organizing effort that led to the Bucks Head Civic Association and the community’s engagement with federal agencies. Woodard praised local advocate Dave Halleck for two years of sustained work pushing for remediation.
Woodard and civic leaders said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a Phase 1 action that removed visible debris and addressed what could be seen on the surface. Community members and association leaders said Phase 2 will be more comprehensive and will involve addressing unseen contamination; they said the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) used on other Superfund projects will provide a formal, ongoing community forum with county, DEQ and National Park Service participation.
Why it matters: Buxton is on North Carolina’s coast and is visited by millions of tourists annually; civic leaders said shoreline recovery and protection of Highway 12 are priorities. Woodard said engineers believe roughly 50% of original dune structure ("groyne" referenced in the meeting) remains intact, which affects permitting and the feasibility of repairs.
Next steps: community leaders said they have recommended a RAB to the Army Corps and await the Corps’ response. County and civic leaders emphasized continued federal engagement, formation of community oversight, and coordination with the National Park Service and state DEQ.
