Briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
AIR FORCE
Base cleaning groundwater
Hickam Air Force Base is using a second "bioslurping system" to recover fuel spilled years ago that has seeped down to groundwater levels.
Installed in the Burger King parking lot, the bioslurper uses a vacuum-like pump to draw liquid fuel, groundwater and fuel vapors into treatment units, officials said.
The first system installed recovered 60,000 gallons in two years of operation, the Air Force said. Plans are under way to install three more of the devices.
Mark Petersen, remedial project manager for the second system, said there is approximately 150,000 to 300,000 gallons of fuel floating on top of the groundwater.
Much of the spill dates to World War II, when Hickam's runway extended to the Burger King and base exchange parking lot, officials said.
Air Force representatives said a number of aviation fuel tanks were in the area, and dumping in the ground was common.
"Back then, there weren't any laws specifying proper disposal for this type of fuel," Petersen said.
Years later, the Air Force found oil floating on top of the groundwater. As the fuel seeps downward, soil and groundwater become degraded.
The Air Force hopes to extract about 40 percent of the fuel with the five bioslurping systems.
Drilling for a third system is scheduled to begin in front of the base post office and commissary.
A fourth system in the ball field across from the Burger King and a fifth system in an adjoining residential area will be installed within the year.
MARINES
Donors to get walkway stones
People who want to pay tribute to veterans or loved ones can purchase 4-inch by 8-inch stones on the "Walkway of Honor" at the newly installed Pacific War Memorial at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe.
Up to 2,500 of the stones, available for donations of $100 or more, will make up the walkway, which is scheduled to be completed this summer.
Orders for the stones must be received no later than April 15. Proceeds will be used for remaining costs associated with construction and administrative costs to bring the 6,000-pound, 40-foot bronze and granite memorial to O'ahu.
The $600,000 memorial is a replica of the National Iwo Jima Memorial in Newington, Conn., and recreates Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer-prize winning photo of Marines and a Navy corpsman raising a flag on Mount Suribachi in 1945, but is dedicated to the sacrifices of all servicemen and women from Pacific campaigns. The memorial was dedicated March 16.
Call (808) 533-3759 for more information. The Pacific War Memorial Association has a Web site.
VETERANS
Information for vets available
The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 858 is sponsoring a veteran's benefits information booth 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 at Ala Moana Center.
Information will be distributed letting veterans know about their entitlements. The information booth will be on the mall level above center stage.
