FAQs for Buxton Beach added to Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s webpage

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) has added a new FAQ section to its Buxton Beach webpage in order to provide essential information on the evolving public safety and environmental issues that are occurring along a 500-yard stretch of Buxton shoreline.

“Frequently asked questions for the Buxton Beach Access closure were developed by [the] Cape Hatteras National Seashore after attending multiple public meetings on the topic, and speaking with many members of the Outer Banks community,” stated Michael Barber, Public Affairs Specialist for CHNS. “We plan to continue speaking with the public about the formerly used defense site and will provide updates at go.nps.gov/buxtonbeach.”

A small section of beach has been closed to the public since September 2023 when two offshore hurricanes – Franklin and Idalia – brushed the Outer Banks, exposing abandoned infrastructure from a former military base that was used by the Navy from 1956-1982, and the U.S. Coast Guard from 1984-2010.

In addition to the resurfaced debris, a new petroleum smell also appeared, beginning in September. The petroleum smell and occasional sheens have been reported multiple times in the past seven months, particularly during storms and when additional erosion occurs.

CHNS added a new web page to its site in late February 2024 in order to address the past, present, and future initiatives for the closed section of shoreline. The Buxton Beach page also chronicles the previous efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers to address petroleum contamination and other issues at the site beginning in 1998.

In addition to the new FAQ section, the CHNS has also made a suite of documents outlining the history of the situation available for public review. The documents can be obtained by emailing a request to CHNS at caha_public_affairs@nps.gov, or by clicking on the individual links below.

While the new-in-2019 Buxton Beach Day Use Area will remain closed for the foreseeable future, the closure only affects three-tenths-of-a-mile out of 75 miles of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, so the public can still visit and enjoy Buxton, and Hatteras Island in general.

To view the CHNS webpage on Buxton Beach, click here.

To view the documents provided by the CHNS on the history of Buxton Beach, click on the links below.

• Special Use Permit between NPS and Navy, signed February 9, 1956
• Use Agreement between Navy and Coast Guard, dated June 29, 1982
• Memorandum of Understanding between NPS and Coast Guard, dated March 13, 1984
• Army Corps of Engineers EA and FONSI for Defense Environmental Restoration Program, dated July 12, 1985
• Army Corps of Engineers statement of work for demo and removal of buildings, utilities, etc.
• Army Corps letter to NPS stating demo work and site restoration completed, dated February 21, 1986
• Reaffirmation Memorandum (5-year extension) between NPS and Coast Guard, dated August 1994
• General Agreement between NPS and Coast Guard, dated October 30, 2001
• General Agreement between NPS and Coast Guard, dated August 4, 2006
• General Agreement between NPS and Coast Guard, dated October 24, 2012

To view the Island Free Press’ recent coverage of this evolving story, refer to the articles below, which are listed in chronological order.

• “No immediate solution in sight for Buxton Beach” – Published on February 19
• “CHNS launches new web page on Buxton Beach’s history and current environmental issues” – Published on February 25
• “Sounding the alarm for Buxton Beach” – Published on February 27
• “Dare County Board of Commissioners take a united front on the issue of Buxton Beach” – Published on March 5
• “Local officials are taking steps to warn the public about Buxton Beach while investigations continue” – Published on March 8
• “National Seashore temporarily expands beach closure at Buxton Beach Access due to petroleum odors and sheen on water” – Published on March 24
• “Dare County issues new Precautionary Public Health Advisory for Buxton Beach” – Published on March 25
• “Understanding the issues at Buxton Beach – An FAQ Guide” – Published on March 25
• “Corps of Engineers completes report on Buxton Beach contamination” – Published on March 27
• “Hatteras Islanders launch campaign to initiate immediate action at Buxton Beach” – Published on March 28
• “Frustrations simmer at public meeting on Buxton Beach” – Published on March 28
• “Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce requests immediate action at Buxton Beach” – Published on April 1
• “New Buxton Civic Association launched to facilitate action at Buxton Beach”– Published on April 2
• “Buxton Civic Association will host its first meeting on April 10 to discuss the environmental and public safety issues at Buxton Beach” – Published on April 9
• “New Buxton Civic Association outlines the work ahead to fix Buxton Beach at heated public meeting” – Published on April 11