Air Force to remove old fuel system
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The Air Force plans to soon start removing about 100,000 gallons of old fuel and sludge from once-secret World War II tank farms and pipelines that run from Central O'ahu to Hickam Air Force Base.
"Currently, there are no plans to reactivate the system, so our feeling is, let's get it cleared out," said Rick McComb, Hickam's environmental restoration manager.
The $3 million project will remove residual fuel from nine 1.75-million-gallon underground storage tanks at the Waikakalaua fuel storage annex near Wheeler Army Airfield; four 2.4-million-gallon tanks in Kipapa Gulch about a half-mile mauka of Kamehameha Highway; and 20 miles of 10-inch pipeline.
The Hickam Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants pipeline, constructed in 1943 and designed to withstand enemy air attacks, remained operational until 1993, when the majority of fuel was removed. Fuels that were stored in the tanks included aviation and motor gasoline and later, JP-4 and JP-8 jet fuel.
"What's in these tanks and pipelines they've had for a number of years, and if they aren't using it, it's a potential threat for release into the environment. So removing it is definitely a good thing," said Keith Kawaoka, program manager for the hazard evaluation and emergency response office within the state health department.
The Waikakalaua fuel removal begins this month and continues into December, the Air Force said. The clean out of the Kipapa tanks is expected to take place from January to April. Pipeline fuel removal will be conducted from February to July.
After the tanks are pumped out, McComb said contractors will wash down the insides. Recovered fuel will be reformulated for use in boilers, while the sludge will be tested to see if it is hazardous. Hazardous sludge will be transferred to Kent, Wash. for incineration, McComb said. If the material is determined to be non-hazardous, it will be incinerated on O'ahu, he said.
The Air Force already has met with the Mililani Neighborhood Board to discuss the project, McComb said, and plans to meet with boards in Pearl City and Waipahu and other communities that the pipeline cross.
The Air Force, which identified 24 known or possible leaks in the system as far back as 1996, continues to investigate environmental impacts. McComb said the fuels have reached groundwater sources, but the levels found have not reached "action levels" for pollutants such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and Zylenes.
The contamination also stems from practices in the 1940s and 1950s that included spreading fuel sludge on the ground to eliminate it, McComb said.
At both Waikakalaua and Kipapa fuel annexes, the Air Force has employed "bioventing" — forcing air into the soil to promote the growth of soil bacteria that use fuel molecules for food.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
