The Buxton Naval Facility Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) property was used by the U.S. Navy as a submarine monitoring station. The Department of Defense (DoD) acquired the 49.99-acre property on 9 February 1956 through a special use permit with the National Park Service (NPS) and subsequently eight additional acres from private parties for the facility. The Buxton Naval Facility continued to operate until closure on 30 June 1982. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) subsequently used the property until 2010, at which point it was returned to NPS.
The Buxton Naval Facility FUDS property contains three projects. Below is a summary of each project:
- Project 01: On February 1, 1989, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District created Project 01 to remove seven aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) (six 1,000-gallon tanks and one 57.6’ x 14’ tank), followed by environmental testing and sampling to determine the need for further action. In 1991, three additional ASTs (one 3,000 gallon, one 4,000 gallon, and one 7,000 gallon tank) were removed from the property. USACE determined no further action was required on September 30, 1993, and the project was closed out on September 30, 2009. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), currently known as the Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), concurred with closeout of the project.
In September 2023, the National Park Service contacted the Savannah District to report that organic material with a petroleum odor had washed up on the beach during a significant storm surge event associated with Hurricane Idalia. USACE sent teams in September, October, November, December 2023, and February 2024 to collect soil samples, perform borings, dig test pits, and take air samples, all in an effort to identify a potential source.
In February 2024, a pipe was discovered after another erosion event, and the Savannah District identified it as a potential source of contamination. In early May 2024, USACE reopened Project 01 and removed the pipe and sampled the surrounding soil. The work was completed in May 2024 and included removing 70-80 feet of pipe, soil sampling, and removing liquids that had been trapped within the pipe and the surrounding soil.
Following high winds and erosion during the week of September 4, 2024, sheen was observed on the beach. USACE initiated a response action to remove visible petroleum-impacted soil and perform confirmatory soil sampling in areas along the beach and dunes that have exhibited odors and sheen. The team mobilized to the property on September 9, 2024. Excavation activities began on October 2, 2024, and included four areas of various dimensions along the beach and dunes. The team excavated petroleum-impacted soils and extracted petroleum-impacted water from these areas and properly transported and disposed of the impacted material offsite. All offsite disposal activities were completed as of 12/19/2024.
Future actions: USACE will perform a comprehensive investigation of the project area, which will involve sampling soil and groundwater to delineate the nature and extent of any remaining petroleum contamination
- Project 02: ·On May 17, 1991, the USACE created Project 02 to demolish and remove a communications tower. However, NPS and USCG informed USACE that the tower was still being used. Accordingly, no demolition or removal activities occurred and USACE closed out the project on September 30, 1991.
- Project 03:
On August 20, 1998, USACE created Project 03 to address soil contamination discovered at the grease ramp/oil change ramp (OCR), Building 9, and underground piping after the USCG’s removal of 27 underground storage tanks (USTs).
Under Project 03, USACE prepared a Comprehensive Site Assessment (CSA) Report in February 2001. The assessment field work included the installation of 10 groundwater monitoring wells, and the collection of soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment samples for laboratory analysis. In March 2000, during the field work, a fuel oil pipeline connecting an AST and Building 9 were removed and closure sampling revealed soil and grease contamination in the soil. Six additional monitoring wells were installed, and additional sampling was conducted. Naphthalene was detected above NCDENR standards in one groundwater well.
In December 2001, the USACE prepared a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). The investigation focused on the former AST pad near Building 7, Building 9, the OCR between Buildings 6 and 7, and Building 19. The CAP recommended the installation of 2 new groundwater monitoring wells near the OCR, demolition and removal of the concrete OCR structure, remediation of soil by excavation and thermal treatment, and monitored natural attenuation of groundwater.
In 2004, the USACE removed approximately 4,006 tons (2,706 cubic yards) of contaminated soil, demolished and removed the OCR, collected 30 confirmation samples, and documented this action in a January 2005 report. The contaminated soil was taken to an approved land farm in Martin County, NC.
Since 2005, the USACE has performed 32 groundwater monitoring events to evaluate groundwater contaminant concentrations. The most recent sampling event occurred in December 2024. The USACE also conducted groundwater injection treatment with two events in 2020 and 2021. Groundwater monitoring data indicates the injection events have been successful as petroleum contaminant concentrations in the groundwater have decreased significantly.
- Project 04: As of early February 2025, USACE created project 04 titled COMM/REL to cover Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) activities.
One way that the Savannah District encourages community involvement in environmental restoration projects at FUDS properties is through RABs. A RAB serves as a forum for stakeholder groups to discuss and exchange information with agencies involved in the environmental restoration process.
On December 12, 2024, the Savannah District determined that, in accordance with 32 C.F.R. § 202.2 and § 8.1.4 of the FUDS Handbook (Dec. 2, 2022), the criteria for establishing a RAB for the Buxton Naval Facility FUDS property were satisfied. Specifically, Buxton stakeholders demonstrated a sufficient and sustained interest in environmental restoration activities and the District received over 50 petitions, in the form of public interest survey responses, from local citizens.
The Savannah District is currently taking steps to establish the RAB. USACE has initiated consultations with the regulatory community and key local government officials to form a selection panel to identify community leaders and representatives for RAB membership. Below is the anticipated schedule to support the first RAB meeting:
- Completion of RAB member selections - mid-March.
- Planning and coordination of RAB meeting materials - end of March.
- RAB meeting - early April.