Is there really a Kirtland AFB oil/water contamination issue?

[cynanthus]

D McCoy - can you point us to any articles or reports that back up what you've written? I'm particularly interested in learning more about this being the largest chemical spill threatening a municipal water supply - where did you learn that?

[D McCoy]

Ten Largest Offshore Oil Spills in the U.S. | Infoplease.com
Re the largest underground spill question: Note that these above spills were crude oil spills above ground. The Kirtland jet fuel spill is underground dissolving into the aquifer at 25,000,000 gallons -- more than double the Exxon-Valdez spill. The bulk of the spill is trapped beneath the water table, not floating on top of it so clean up is made extremely more difficult.

The Greenpoint oil spill on Newton Creek, Brooklyn was comparable in size at 17 M+ to Kirtland with a major difference that the Kirtland gusher is 500 ft below ground surface and is refined product. If the Kirtland plume was above ground and visible perhaps the reaction would be different instead of the silly denials and inaction for the seriousness of this gusher. The threatened municipal wells supply 60% of ABQ's drinking water. 40% of ABQ's water comes from the Rio Grande, but due to drought conditions that withdrawal will be shutdown for several months. This means additional groundwater mining/pumping and drawing the plume of contamination more rapidly toward municipal wells that lie to the northeast along an ancient river bed. More than 45 municipal wells are ultimately subject to the contamination. I haven't discussed the other plumes of contamination at Kirtland from 568 other sources in the past. Those plumes contain high levels of TCE, PCE and nitrates. Overall in ABQ, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified 150 toxic areas and 20 of those would probably qualify for the National Priorities List. Over 30 square miles of ABQ has contaminated ground water. The CDC estimate was made without inclusion of the contamination at Kirtland AFB and Sandia Labs.

[NMHacker]

Oil spill near Kirtland not contaminating Albuquerque wells
Posted at: 07/14/2013 8:36 PM
By: Jeffery Gordon, KOB.com



Scientists say the massive oil spill near Kirtland Air Force Base is not contaminating Albuquerque wells.

The center for disease control and prevention says Albuquerque’s drinking water supply shows it is clear of any fuel.

The massive jet fuel spill that began back in the 1950’s was believed to be threatening the water supply.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the CDC team released results from their study to local water protection officials on Friday.

A public meeting is scheduled later this month to present the findings.

Oil spill near Kirtland not contaminating Albuquerque wells | KOB.com

[Poncho_NM]

Two recent Albuquerque Journal articles on the issue, one is references above:

» Fuel spill study confirms wells safe for now | ABQ Journal

» Fuel leak ‘Plan B’ not that simple | ABQ Journal

[Zoidberg]

Important to keep things in perspective- CDC team found no current contamination in current wells.

Fuel spill did occur, probably got into the water table, is probably spreading.

Wells in use are probably not above the plume, yet. City may have stopped using some wells to ensure this.

May start to show up in 2 years, may never show up.

Main takeaway: Your water is safe now. No one knows about the future.