News Release

Reopening of Assateague Island National Seashore Beaches after Medical Waste Closures

Aireal view of Assateague Island National Seashore beaches.

NPS photo

News Release Date: September 20, 2024

Contact: Hugh Hawthorne, 410-629-6080

Assateague Island National Seashore update Friday 9/20/24: In consultation with the multiple state and federal agencies, we are pleased to report that swimming and ocean access can now be permitted on the lifeguarded beaches in both Maryland and Virginia! As we continue to cleanse and monitor beaches, we will open other areas incrementally. The Oceanside Campground Beach and South Beach will reopen for water activities at 10 AM Saturday 9/21.

Thorough sweeps of the beach have been performed and only a handful of items have been found. It appears that little or no new material has washed on to the beach in the last two days. As a precaution, visitors are advised to wear shoes on the beach and in the unlikely event that any medical waste is found, to contact a lifeguard or ranger. We have done an intensive cleanup effort-but the risk is not zero.

Due to major washouts and flooding, the Maryland Oversand Vehicle area remains closed. It will remain closed until it becomes safely passable, and staff are able to do an assessment and cleanup of any waste materials still in the OSV area.

The North End of the Island (Assateague Island north of the State Park) is still closed to visitation. This area received a larger amount of the medical and other waste which came ashore. It is likely that it will remain closed for at least another week, possibly longer, as cleanup will begin after the other, more visited areas are completed.

The source of the material is still unknown. The material consisted of used needles, hygiene products, smoking products, and miscellaneous plastics. Most material came ashore Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday morning. There has been very little since Tuesday morning. We will continue to monitor and investigate the situation.