USACE Progresses with Cleanup of Former Buxton Naval Facility Near Hatteras Lighthouse
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is making significant progress in the cleanup of the former US Naval facility in Buxton, North Carolina, which operated from 1956 to 1982. As of January 17, 2025, nearly 3,500 cubic yards of petroleum-impacted sand, 274 linear feet of asbestos pipe, and over 2 million pounds of concrete, asphalt, and building debris have been removed.
The cleanup gained urgency following contamination caused by storms in spring 2024. The Buxton Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) has been actively involved since April 2025, with Brig. General Zach Miller highlighting the project's high profile.
Funding for the project is approved month-to-month, with efforts to excavate newly discovered materials, including buried drums with unknown viscous substances. Additionally, a new project area addressing lead contamination at a former firing range is pending funding for the next fiscal year.
