"Investigation reveals jet fuel leaks in MSP underground fuel system"

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Investigation reveals jet fuel leaks in underground fuel system 
The Associated Press 
  
  
MINNEAPOLIS - Tens of thousands of gallons of jet fuel have leaked at the
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport over the past three years due to
mismanagement of an underground fuel system, a state investigation found.

The fuel has contaminated soil beneath the airport and drained through storm
sewers into the Minnesota River, according to violations notices issued by
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

State investigators found multiple cases where fuel handlers didn't inspect
the fuel delivery system, failed to monitor pressure drops that might
indicate leaks, skipped some repairs and inadequately cleaned up fuel when
it was discovered, the Star Tribune reported in its Wednesday editions.

The fuel-delivery system at the airport moves up to 1 million gallons of
fuel a day so that planes' tanks can be filled quickly at any gate.

The lines and storage tanks are owned by the Metropolitan Airports
Commission. Its spokesman declined to comment in detail, but said that no
fuel reached the river, as the alleged violations suggest.

It is not clear how much fuel escaped into storm drains or sanitary sewers.
Nor is it clear whether any fuel reached groundwater, the Star Tribune
reported. No drinking water is drawn from the area.

Barr Engineering, a consultant for the cleanup, reported to the MPCA two
weeks ago that 40,060 gallons of jet fuel have been cleaned up from two
leaks discovered in February 2003. That's enough to fill about five gasoline
tanker trucks and is three times greater than officials estimated when the
leaks were discovered.

Mike Tibbetts, the MPCA's lead manager on the project, said the state is
negotiating a legal agreement to resolve the problems. Such agreements
typically involve penalties and corrective actions.

Tibbetts and other state officials would not comment in detail, citing a
state Supreme Court decision that restricts release of information in civil
investigations.

Patrick Hogan, spokesman for the Airports Commission, said that two leaks
had been found in underground pipes, one with a faulty valve and another
with a bad gasket.

"Those were corrected and cleanup activities occurred, and we have not seen
any additional problems since that time," Hogan said.

Margaret Napolitan, environmental project manager for Aircraft Service
International Group, a Florida-based group that operates the fuel system,
said that neither the cleanup nor the negotiations with pollution officials
have been completed.

"A tremendous amount of work has been done just to improve the overall
airport operations," she said. "We have not signed an agreement yet and so
until we do that, we really can't comment."

Northwest Airlines, the leading company in the Minneapolis Fuels Committee,
which consists of airlines that use the fuel, said in a written statement
that the airlines are working with pollution officials to protect the
environment.

"Within the past 18 months, the Minneapolis Fuels Committee has spent close
to $4 million to bring the fuel system into complete compliance with local,
state and federal regulations," the statement said.

In addition to the Airports Commission, the aircraft service group and the
fuels committee have also received notices of alleged violations. Settlement
negotiations between the MPCA and the three organizations have been going on
for most of the year.

In addition to imposing fines, the state could require corrective actions,
including better training and equipment for workers; changes in how waste
jet fuel is handled; more sophisticated leak-detection gear; more testing;
and improved record keeping, inspections and pressure monitoring.

The first hint of a problem appeared Feb. 14, 2003, when fuel vapors invaded
the Whipple Federal Building north of the airport.

Investigators traced the contamination back through the sewer lines, and a
few days later discovered two significant leaks in the airport's fuel
system, which were reported at the time.

MPCA officials then began an investigation and found dozens of other
problems dating to early 2001.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************