An environmental emergency is unfolding at Buxton Beach, North Carolina, within the Kaye Patter National Seashore, where oil contamination from previously buried fuel storage has become a pressing concern. Local residents have expressed frustration as oil continues to wash ashore, a situation that has persisted for over a year.

The response involves three primary federal agencies: the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Coast Guard. Recently, the Army Corps announced the deployment of a team to monitor the situation and initiate the removal of potentially contaminated soil. They have also awarded a contract for additional equipment to aid in remediation efforts.

During a recent government meeting, Senator Budd inquired about the Coast Guard's involvement in addressing the contamination. The Coast Guard confirmed its active participation in coordination with the other agencies, emphasizing their commitment to resolving the issue. However, they clarified that while pollution responders were dispatched to assess the situation, they did not detect an active oil spill that would trigger their spill response authorities.

Despite the lack of a detected spill, the Coast Guard is collaborating with the Army Corps and the National Park Service to explore authorized programs for site remediation. The ongoing efforts reflect a federal commitment to addressing the environmental crisis and restoring the affected area.