Photo taken this morning showing exposed infrastructure on the beach adjacent to the Buxton Beach Access/NPS

Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina has expanded the size of a previously closed beach area in Buxton due to petroleum pollution.

The expansion announced Sunday afternoon closes the Buxton Beach Access, located at the end of Old Lighthouse Road, and an additional stretch of beach due to reports of petroleum odors and sheen on the ocean water. The odors and sheen were observed by seashore staff near a site formerly used by the Navy and Coast Guard.

Observations were reported to the National Response Center on Sunday morning and the Coast Guard’s Sector North Carolina has responded and is working with the National Park Service to monitor the situation.

Approximately two-tenths of a mile of beach in front of the formerly used defense site has been closed since Sept. 1, 2023. Sunday’s expansion of the closure results in a closed section of beach approximately three-tenths of a mile long, starting at the southernmost beachfront home in the village of Buxton and ending at the first (southernmost) jetty.

The Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers have been notified about the recent observations and the Park Service will be meeting with both agencies.

Historical information about the former military site is located at http://go.nps.gov/buxtonbeach. Recent and historical photos of the site can be found in the Seashore’s Buxton Beach Access photo album.