Posted on June 3, 2026
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed excavation work to remove petroleum-contaminated soil from the beach and dunes at the Buxton Naval Facility, a Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) property within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, according to an update released Wednesday.
As of May 28, crews had finished excavations, sand replacement, and seeding efforts at the site, and the project is moving into its next phase.
Since 2024, the Corps has conducted two Interim Response Actions to address petroleum contamination at the former military facility. In addition to removing contaminated soil, crews also removed remnants of old infrastructure, including concrete, asphalt, utilities, fencing, and asbestos pipes.
During the 2025 response action, approximately 19,285 tons of petroleum-impacted soil and 336,928 gallons of petroleum-impacted water were removed from the site. Crews also removed 315 linear feet of asbestos pipe and about 3.05 million pounds of concrete, abandoned utilities, fencing, asphalt, and other debris. An additional 122,472 gallons of stormwater and rainwater were treated using granular activated carbon systems.
According to the Corps, a secondary source of petroleum contamination was identified during the 2025 excavation work. The contaminated soil was found near the former heating oil plant, indicating the petroleum likely originated from a release at that facility.
Officials said some of the petroleum likely migrated beneath and around Building 19, which was excavated and removed during the 2024 response action. Much of the newly identified source area has since been excavated and removed, which the Corps said is expected to reduce future petroleum odors and surface sheens during storm events.
“The weather has caused some delays, but we’ve accomplished a lot at the Buxton FUDS property during the Interim Response Actions,” said Sara Keisler, Savannah District FUDS program manager. “It’s been a team effort, and we really appreciate our agency stakeholders and community members. We will continue to communicate important updates as we have them.”
The next phase of the project is expected to begin in fall 2026 and will focus on comprehensive sampling to determine the nature and extent of any remaining petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater.
Keisler said site conditions changed significantly as a result of the excavation work, requiring modifications to the sampling contract and development of a new work plan.
“Currently, the updated work plan is being revised,” Keisler said. “Once that’s complete it will be reviewed by our agency experts and then stakeholders before we can determine exactly when the sampling fieldwork will begin.”
The Buxton Naval Facility operated during World War II and is one of several former military properties managed through the Corps’ FUDS program. Cleanup efforts have been underway in recent years after petroleum contamination was discovered beneath portions of the beach and dune system near the former facility.
