Former Buxton Naval Facility Pipe Removal and Soil Sample Collection
Challenge
The U.S. Navy used the Buxton Naval Facility, a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS), as a submarine monitoring station until 1982. In September 2023, the National Park Service contacted the United States Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District to report exposed piping with a petroleum odor on the beach following a major storm event caused by Hurricane Idalia.
An investigation was conducted to find potential sources of the odors, sheen, and contaminated organic material. In February, after another erosion event, the USACE Savannah District discovered a pipe and identified it as a potential source.
As a subcontractor to our sister company SLSCO, we were chosen through a Basic Ordering Agreement—a contract allowing federal agencies to expedite emergency work—to investigate the pipe location and remove the pipe materials and any impacted soils found during the excavation and removal process.
The initial depth and extent of the pipe excavation were unknown, as was the presence of any hidden peripheral structures that might interfere with the removal and soil sampling. Given the sensitive nature of the site, this emergency response project involved non-hazardous debris removal and civil construction and was a high-visibility remediation effort for the US Army Corps of Engineers, the State of North Carolina, and the local community stakeholders.
Solution
Prior to beginning any earth disturbance, site orientations and preplanning meetings occurred with USACE, NCDEQ, and NPS. The work area was clearly delineated along with established access roads. Next, the team performed utility location to identify the pipe extents and any other utilities or anomalies in the work area and/or general vicinity using electromagnetic induction and ground-penetrating radar.
We completed pipe removal methodically, ensuring a high level of protection for personnel and the environment. To expose the pipe, we employed a Caterpillar 321 Hydraulic Excavator and hand tools. Before and during excavation entry, we used direct reading instruments to monitor air quality for safe entry and to determine the presence of contamination. We excavated approximately 200 cubic yards of material and removed and disposed of 8.5 tons of petroleum-impacted soil.
We exposed the pipe and used handheld, non-sparking mechanical cutting devices to cut the pipe into manageable sections. We positioned catch basins and sorbent materials beneath any cut locations to capture residual liquids and avoid releases to the environment. We drained any flowable residual liquids from each pipe section and secured the ends with polypropylene sheeting before placing them into a roll-off box lined with polypropylene liner.
We sampled the waste pipe materials collected and kept them secured on-site until we profiled them for appropriate disposal. In total, we removed and disposed of approximately 100 linear feet of abandoned diesel fuel line.
After removing the pipe, we took soil samples to validate whether petroleum contamination existed below and along the pipe location. Soil samples were collected and analyzed per the sampling and analysis plan. Samples were tested for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH), and Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons (VPH) at a USACE-accepted laboratory. We completed approximately 15 post-excavation soil samples.
After collecting samples and removing the pipe, we backfilled and compacted the excavated areas to restore the area to near preconstruction conditions.
Results
The initial emergency response at the Buxton Naval Facility FUDS property successfully addressed the source of contamination, significantly mitigating the risk of further petroleum impact on the beach.
We demonstrated our efficient and safe remediation practices throughout the project, meeting the high visibility requirements and expectations of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the State of North Carolina, and local stakeholders.
The project not only resolved immediate release issues but also reinforced our commitment to environmental stewardship and community safety. Additionally, our expertise in disaster response, hazardous debris removal, and heavy civil construction ensured the project’s success and minimal disruption to the surrounding environment and community.