1st SOCES combats environmental contamination

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrea Posey
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  It only takes one error with a hazardous substance, like fuel, to possibly contaminate the base’s water supply and grounds. However, the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron is committed to ensuring this never happens.

The squadron combats this scenario by keeping the base’s above-ground storage tanks, which contain fuel used for mission operations, up-to-date on environmental standards. Their commitment to this task paid off after they received zero discrepancies during a recent annual Environmental Regulatory Inspection.

“Zero discrepancies are a direct result of how our civil engineering utilities section and tank custodians ensure the tanks are in compliance on a daily basis,” said Barry Woods, the environmental element program manager with the 1st SOCES. “Hurlburt Field’s dedication to the tank inspection and preventative maintenance program has ensured that we have never received a notice of violation.”

An NOV is a fine issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection after an inspection if the fuel tanks are not in compliance with state, federal or local laws.

During an inspection, FDEP personnel check for record keeping, operation and repair records, monthly release detection results, test data, monthly maintenance visual inspections and cathodic protection systems results. They also ensure the tanks are being operated safely.
It is important to keep fuel storage tanks up-to-standard because of the environmental impact an error could have on base residents.

“Petroleum products can contaminate water with chemicals that are very difficult to clean to drinking water standard,” said Martin Tabor, the environmental element chief with the 1st SOCES. “Spills and discharges can be costly as the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the cleanup of petroleum spilled underground could potentially cost upwards of $32 billion.”

To prevent mishaps, the 1st SOCES environmental flight works alongside the utilities section to conduct monthly inspections.

For these internal inspections, utilities personnel visually check tanks for defects that could lead to contamination. If an issue is detected, the team repairs it immediately. The results of these inspections are recorded and updated monthly to guarantee all tanks are maintained and operate above standards.

“The positive outcome of this [year’s] inspection is directly attributable to the professionalism and conscientiousness of all tank managers overseeing the tanks on the day-to-day basis,” Woods said. “Every individual who performs maintenance on the tanks understand the importance of ensuring they remain in operational status and in compliance on a daily basis.”

Due to the 1st SOCES receiving zero discrepancies in this year’s inspection, only 10 percent of the base’s tanks are required to be evaluated in 2017 and every other year in the future. This is part of a state reward system for facilities with high annual inspection records.

“By ensuring these tanks remain in compliance and in mission ready status, Hurlburt Field would always be ready for a no-notice inspection,” Wood said. “Continually keeping our tanks in compliance and our records up to date are definite contributing factors of why we achieve high scores.”