SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District’s, website has been updated with the Buxton Formerly Used Defense Sites Property Pipe Removal Report, which summarizes the results of the pipe removal effort and post-removal soil sampling that took place in May 2024.
The final pipe removal and soil sample report can be found in the documents section of the Buxton FUDS webpage: Buxton FUDS Info. In the report summary, the Army Corps of Engineers concludes, “Based on data collected during this pipe removal and sampling action, further investigation is recommended at the property. Observations made during the investigation (odors, staining, sheen on groundwater) along with laboratory data suggest the pipe uncovered and removed is a likely source of contamination. Additional characterization should be conducted of the compounds detected in soils and groundwater in the pipe removal area. Data collected from the groundwater and soil should be used to determine the nature and extent of contamination, which will be used to determine the best course of action at the property.”
Additionally, the District FUDS team is working with the contractor, Nicklaus-Ensafe JV, to develop and accept a workplan for the upcoming petroleum comprehensive sampling study, which will begin sometime in the Spring of 2025. During the study, soil and groundwater samples will be collected, not only from the pipe area, but throughout the project area, to determine the nature and extent of any remaining petroleum contamination, and if necessary, any additional response actions.
Since the excavations for the response action have ended, the Army Corps of Engineers team conducted a site walk-thru with the National Park Service Jan. 17, 2025. As part of the response action, the team replaced any petroleum-impacted soil removed from the area with clean sand, and workers will return this Spring to seed the dunes and other disturbed areas with native plants.
The Army Corps of Engineers will continue to provide updates and coordinate any project area actions and access with the National Park Service. Progress updates will continue to be shared via news releases and through the Restoration Advisory Board to ensure the community stays informed.
The District FUDS team is also working with community leaders to establish a RAB selection panel, so a diverse representation of the surrounding community is selected to be members of the RAB. The first meeting is set to be scheduled in mid-March or whenever the RAB is officially established, pending community responses and member selection. Questions from the community can be sent to cesas-fuds@usace.army.mil.
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