BUXTON, N.C. — Cape Hatteras National Seashore expanded the temporary closure area of the Buxton Beach Access on Thursday, due to more petroleum contamination and exposed remnant military infrastructure.
According to the Seashore, several feet of sand has washed away from an area of beach in front of the Buxton Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) over the last 24 to 36 hours.
The erosion exposed more petroleum-contaminated soil and groundwater, as well as much more hazardous materials left in the ground from historic military use of the site, such as concrete, rebar, wires, PVC and metal pipes, metal fragments, and cables.
The Dare County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) has also now issued an update to the public health advisory for the site, which was first issued on Sept. 1, 2023, after two-tenths of a mile of beach in front of the former military site was closed that same day.
From 1956 until 2010, the Buxton Beach Access served as a military base for both the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.
Since then, several soil samples have been taken by the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Seashore staff that found that the soil contained light fuel oil, lubricating oil, petroleum hydrocarbons, and non-petroleum contamination.
With this new coastal erosion, health department officials say "apparent petroleum sheens have been observed running off of potentially contaminated soils into the ocean" and "moderate to intense" odors have been present up to a mile south of the FUDS site.
The current length of the Buxton Beach Access closure now spans about a half mile.
Dare County health department officials say that entering the closed area poses a health risk, due to petroleum exposure, and a safety risk, due to the military infrastructure.
Already, they have received reports of varying mild to moderate symptoms including headaches, nausea and skin and eye irritation from people who were in the water in the impacted area.
All visitors to Buxton Beach should heed the signs on the north and south end of the closed section of beach and stay outside of the area.
