SENATE MEMORIAL 2

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy M. Keller

A MEMORIAL

EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE POSITIVE WORK THAT THE KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, THE CITY AND THE STATE HAVE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP TO CLEAN GROUND WATER IMPACTED BY THE BULK FUEL FACILITY SPILL AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTINUING NEED FOR ADDITIONAL WORK.

     WHEREAS, the bulk fuel facility on Kirtland air force base in Albuquerque is located in the northwestern portion of the base; and

     WHEREAS, the facility and associated infrastructure operated from 1953 until 1999, during which time the fueling area was separated into a tank holding area, where bulk shipments of fuel were received, and a fuel loading area, where individual fuel trucks were filled; and

     WHEREAS, Kirtland air force base removed the facility from service in 1999 due to line leakage; and

     WHEREAS, the exact history of the leaks or releases is unknown, and initially it was thought that the leaks only affected surface soil; and

     WHEREAS, investigations between 2004 and 2007 demonstrated that the leaked fuel had reached the ground water table; and

     WHEREAS, Kirtland air force base installed the first soil vapor extraction unit in 2003 to begin treating soil contamination related to the fuel spill and continued from 2004 to 2007; and

     WHEREAS, in 2007, fuel was detected in the ground water table off the air force base and additional vapor extraction units were installed at various points above the fuel plume; and

     WHEREAS, further investigation shows that the fuel contamination has migrated north of Kirtland air force base; and

     WHEREAS, in order to comply with the department of environment's hazardous waste bureau requirements and to understand the extent of contamination and how far contamination has migrated from the original site, additional ground water and soil vapor monitoring wells are being installed both on and off the base; and

     WHEREAS, new wells will be installed in the Siesta Hills and Elder Homestead neighborhoods in the next few months, and these wells will be sampled quarterly to fill in information gaps so a final remedy can be identified to address the fuel leak;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that appreciation be expressed for the positive work that the air force, the city and the state have done in partnership to clean ground water and for the community's and neighbors' patience during the testing phase; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the parties be requested to continue their cooperative work until every last drop of ground water and every last air vapor is ameliorated; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of the United States air force, the secretary of defense, the New Mexico congressional delegation, the secretary of environment and the mayor of Albuquerque.

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