The Outer Banks Voice – USACE update ahead of the November 4 Buxton meeting

By means of Outer Banks Voice on November 2, 2024

Buxton FUDS excavation at the site continues. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The Corps removed approximately 500 cubic yards and 11,000 gallons of petroleum-affected water and soil

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE) Savannah District, will host a public meeting at the Fessenden Center on November 4 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM to provide information about the creation of a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) as an option to assist members of the community to maintain updated on the actions taking place at the Buxton Naval Facility, a formerly used defense site located on North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The Fessenden Center is located at 46830 Hwy 12 in Buxton.

Following the opening remarks and a presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with various subject matter experts from the Corps of Engineers and other agency stakeholders to better understand the project, the functions of a RAB, and the actions of agency stakeholders.

“We look forward to this opportunity to communicate with the community and explain the functions and responsibilities of a RAB so they can determine if this is the right path forward for them,” said Savannah District Commander Col. Ron Sturgeon. “We have been actively assessing and remediating the site since the first oil spill was reported in September 2023, and our response excavations have now been underway for just over a month. During that time, we kept our stakeholders informed weekly. This site remains a top priority for me and my FUDS team.”

Participants can also learn about ongoing activities since contractors arrived on October 2, 2024 and began the current excavations for response actions. While the primary purpose of the contract is to remove petroleum-affected land, remaining infrastructure that impedes access to the affected land has also been removed, but percentages are not tracked.

“Our team has been very busy,” said Sara Keisler, Savannah District FUDS program manager. “At this time we have estimated numbers, but so far we have removed 505 cubic meters and 11,000 liters of petroleum-affected soil and water, as well as approximately 32,400 kilos of concrete, 350 meters of pipes and 300 meters of metal cables and wires.” The current response action contract is estimated to take 60 days to complete, and the team still expects work to be completed by the end of November.

Following the excavation response action, the Savannah District will conduct extensive sampling of soil and groundwater within the project area. The purpose of this sampling is to map the nature and extent of any petroleum contamination remaining on the FUDS site.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Former Buxton naval facility

Formerly used defense site

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host a presentation to provide an update on the ongoing response effort and present information on a restoration advisory board. The presentation will be followed by an open house session.

The site of the Buxton Naval Facility Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) was used by the US Navy as a submarine measuring station. The U.S. Coast Guard then used the property until it was returned to the National Park Service. USACE is conducting a response effort to remove visible petroleum-affected soil and take confirmatory soil samples in areas along the beach and dunes that exhibit odors and sheens.

Subsequent actions will include extensive sampling of soil and groundwater within the project area to identify the nature and extent of petroleum contamination.

USACE will continue the meeting November 4, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Fessenden Center at 46830 NC Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920.

For more information, please visit the project website: Buxton Naval Facility (army.mil)or email [email protected].