BUXTON, N.C. — A portion of Buxton Beach on the Outer Banks is still closed off while crews deal with petroleum contamination.
The three-tenths mile section of beach near Old Lighthouse Road has been closed for weeks following reports of petroleum odors and a sheen on the ocean water. The contamination prompted a “precautionary public health advisory" issued March 24.
Dare County Commissioner Chairman Bob Woodard would like to see the issue resolved before tourism season hits the Outer Banks.
“We’re just hoping we’re not going to lose any visitation revenue over this, and people canceling their stays," Woodard said.
The contaminated section of the beach used to be the site of Naval Facility Cape Hatteras and Coast Guard Group Cape Hatteras in Buxton.
“It turns out that when the Navy was at the site, there was some challenges related to the storage of petroleum that apparently leaked out into the environment," Woodard said.
Superintendent of National Parks of Eastern North Carolina David Hallac said the Army Corps of Engineers previously cleaned up most of the petroleum. However, years of erosion brought the issue back to the surface.
“We’re now seeing the exposure of old Naval building foundations, utilities, and also some petroleum-contaminated soil," Hallac explained.
Woodard said he and other county officials recently visited Washington, D.C. to ask members of Congress to step in and help.
"...It’s federal government property. It’s their total responsibility to clean this up," Woodard said.
Woodard told 13News Now they spoke to staff with U.S. Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis about the issue.
We reached out to both senators for comment. Sen. Tillis said, in part, "Continued delay is not an option, and I will continue pushing the agencies responsible to use their existing remediation authorities to keep Buxton one of America’s best beaches.”
A spokesperson with Sen. Budd said, in part, “We have been coordinating efforts with other members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to get answers and find a solution.”
With the summer season approaching, Woodard hopes the site won't deter visitors.
“You know, we have 70, 75 miles of pristine beach. We’re talking two-tenths, three-tenths of a mile where this site is that...has the issue," he said.