Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews, the facility that stores and maintains Air Force One, has spilled approximately 32,000 gallons of jet fuel into waterways over four months through two separate incidents.
Timeline of the Fuel Leaks
The base’s fuel system failed a critical leak safety test as early as December. In the first two months of the year, personnel recorded a loss of about 10,000 gallons. At the time, they believed the leak remained contained within the base boundaries and did not affect the surrounding environment.
Joint Base Andrews sits directly on Piscataway Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. On March 23, an observer spotted what appeared to be oil in the creek, prompting the Department of Defense to notify Maryland state officials.
During the initial notification, military officials did not reveal the full volume of fuel that had entered state waterways. It took an additional two weeks for the Department of Defense to provide complete details on the spill’s scope, drawing criticism from environmental regulators.
Regulatory Response and Concerns
“There’s an equation with a lot of blank spaces that have to be filled in,” stated Adam Ortiz, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment. “That’s why the rules are what they are. People are supposed to report immediately.”
Maryland inspectors noted in an April 15 report, “Efforts to properly control, contain, and clean up the release of fuel have been minimal and insufficient.” They added, “Deadlines are now considered past due.”
While the exact amount reaching the Potomac remains unclear, officials warn of severe environmental impacts. State authorities continue investigating to assess the full extent of the contamination and any ongoing risks.
