Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. -- Multiple 4th Fighter Wing units joined together to train for a worst case fuel spill scenario, March 1-2.
Precision Planning and Simulations Inc., the project coordinator for the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Oil Spill Response Training/Exercise Contract, helped coordinate the two-day exercise.
“The exercises are structured around a three-year cycle where the scenarios escalate from year to year,” said Mike Donohoe, PPS senior instructor.
Tech. Sgt. Justin Fellure, 4th Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief, said preparing for incidents is the first step. Fellure added it’s important for each agency to understand the capabilities and resources available in a spill response.
“When a major incident occurs, people will have questions and it is critical all responding agencies are working toward the same goal while following a plan of action,” said Fellure. “It is best to identify shortfalls and resources needed during practice scenarios in order to identify proper steps to be taken before the real incident occurs. As emergency responders, we know each incident will bring different challenges.”
This year the scenario simulated a 720,000 gallon tank structure failure and collapse. During the exercise, members responded to 700,000 gallons of fuel splashed into the secondary containment area.
“The sudden collapse gave enough momentum to overflow the containment area and cause 300,000 gallons of jet fuel to get over the containment wall,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Janzen, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron quality assurance evaluator.
Directly after the simulated collapse of the tank, the 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 4th CES and other pertinent agencies were mobilized and put into place, each discussing their part in containing the fuel before it could potentially travel off base and pollute the water.
Tech. Sgt. Jose Ybarra, 4th LRS fuels management flight safety and environmental officer, said the containment and clean up would vary depending on the situation of the occurrence.
“It's hard to say how long it would take to clean up a fuel spill,” Ybarra said. “There are several elements to consider. Oil type and quantity, environment, weather, terrain, and wildlife are all taken into account.”
Spills can take a few hours, days, months, possibly even years to clean up. Ybarra added in this scenario, it could possibly take 2 to 4 weeks to complete all remediation.
“It is important to train for this type of event because it allows everyone to be involved,” said Master Sgt. Theodore Davis, 4th LRS fuels management flight superintendent. “This allows LRS to actually collaborate with emergency response units, rather than only dealing with them during emergency situations.”
Davis elaborated in the unlikely event something like this does occur, the base has not only planned for it, but has an idea of how to quickly respond and react with the other agencies involved.
Multiple automatic and manual safeguards are currently in place and are routinely checked and maintained to ensure that a situation doesn’t occur.
Tech. Sgt. Bruce Lambright, 4th AMDS readiness plans and operations element NCO in charge, said the bioenvironmental engineering office gained a lot of perspective on what the fuel spill responders will be doing and what they could potentially be exposed to.
“This will ease us in giving a faster determination on what personal protective equipment to wear,” said Lambright.
In addition to protecting their Airmen, the Air Force is committed to protecting the environment. Donohoe said that protecting the environment is crucial to the base and to the surrounding area. If the spill managed to reach the Neuse River, fuel could be carried downstream and greatly affect the environment and countless people.
Thankfully, these training exercises help thwart any incidents like that from occurring.
“It’s great to see all these Airmen from different agencies join together in such a cohesive manner,” said Donohoe. “They’re preparing for the worst and will be ready for anything that comes their way. Nothing will stop them from completing the mission.”