HATTERAS ISLAND – The Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday it had finished removing a pipe at the former Navy base here, but officials are still awaiting results from soil sampling to determine their next steps in the cleanup.
The Corps’ Savannah District announced that contractors at the Buxton Naval Facility Formerly Used Defense Sites property completed their work Friday after removing 70 to 80 feet of pipe and liquids it contained as well as those in surrounding soil.
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Results from the soil sampling, once processed, are to be shared with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for coordination on how to proceed.
The Corps said it was also performing an internal review of its investigations to date through the Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise.
“The Savannah District is committed to keeping the community informed about the status of our investigative work at the Buxton FUDS project,” said Col. Ron Sturgeon, the Corps’ Savannah District commander. “Once we receive the results and determine the next steps, we will provide an update through a news release and the project’s webpage.”
A Hatteras Island resident in September alerted Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials about strong diesel fumes and a sheen on the water near the old Navy base after Hurricane Idalia. Superintendent Dave Hallac reached out to the Savannah District to report organic material with a petroleum odor had washed up on the beach during this time.
The Corps sent teams in September, October, November, December and February to collect soil samples, perform borings, dig test pits, and take air samples, to identify the source.
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The Corps said that it had discovered a pipe in February after further beach erosion that it identified as a potential source. The Corps awarded a contract earlier this month to remove the pipe and sample the surrounding soil.
There’s a webpage for the former Buxton Naval Facility FUDS property at Buxton FUDS with access to a contact email for questions about the site, frequently asked questions, the September 2023-February 2024 Final Summary Report of Findings as well as facts related to the site and other Savannah District’s FUDS properties and projects.
