BUXTON, N.C. (WAVY) — A stretch of beach at the northeast end of Buxton was once home to a naval base used to track submarines. It was decommissioned in the 1980s. Over the years, ownership changed hands from the Navy to the Coast Guard to the National Park Service. Since it was thought to be decommissioned, erosion gradually showed more parts of the base remains. Over the last few years, it was found to be leaking oil into the ocean.

Within the last two years, months of community action led to the Army Corps sending a crew to get rid of soil contaminated with oil along with parts of the structure. The community and crews knew other parts of the base likely remain much deeper into the sand. Work is still being done to sample the entire site to eventually remove all of the soil so that ero

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