Officials: Jet Fuel Leak At Sand Island Could Pose Threat To Coastal Waters

Jan. 29, 2015
Recovery efforts conducted by ASIG include pumping product from trenches and tank monitoring wells. Approximately 16,000 gallons of fuel has been recovered to date.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office (HEER) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are responding to a 43,000 gallons release of jet fuel from an above ground storage tank located on Sand Island Access Road at the Airport Service Group International (ASIG) facility.

DOH received notification of the release on Jan. 21 at 12 noon and immediately began oversight of response efforts that same day. The release does not pose a risk to drinking water, but could pose a threat to coastal waters.

The release occurred from a leak in the bottom of ASIG's tank #2. The above ground storage tank has a 68,500 barrel capacity.

Recovery efforts conducted by ASIG include pumping product from trenches and tank monitoring wells. Approximately 16,000 gallons of fuel has been recovered to date. Recovery efforts will continue to remove any released product and ensure the spill is contained and not impact State waters.

EPA is the lead agency working alongside the state to oversee the clean-up.

On Jan. 20, several Ala Moana beachgoers reported seeing a sticky, oily substance in the water. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause and has not confirmed if it is connected to the jet fuel leak.