A nearly unified bloc of Maryland's congressional delegation is demanding the Air Force provide a full accounting of a 32,000-gallon jet fuel spill at Joint Base Andrews earlier this year, accusing the service of a lack of transparency that may have worsened environmental damage.
In a May 5 letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, the lawmakers detailed their frustration over a series of leaks between January and March that sent 22,000 gallons of fuel into the soil and nearby Piscataway Creek. They argue the Air Force's failure to promptly notify state regulators hampered efforts to contain the contamination.
Delayed Notification Raises Red Flags
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) announced an investigation into the leaks on April 13, noting that the base "failed to promptly disclose leaks as required by its state oil permit and did not report the full extent of the discharge until April 8." The department also stated that the base's leak detection system malfunctioned multiple times over three months, but MDE was not alerted until March 23, when odors and a fuel sheen were spotted near the headwaters of Piscataway Creek.
In early April, the base's contamination prevention system also failed twice, including a containment dam collapse during heavy rain. The fuel originated from a refueling system that has since been shut down; a contractor is now handling cleanup. Officials say drinking water has not been affected, but the public has been advised to avoid swimming or recreating in areas of the creek with visible petroleum sheen or odor.
Lawmakers Seek Accountability
The lawmakers contend that the reporting delays "for many weeks" prevented MDE from taking timely steps to limit the spread of the pollution. They are pressing Meink for answers on the current status of the spill's spread and containment, the systems in place to detect future leaks, and any plans to upgrade them. They also want to know what measures the Air Force will implement to prevent similar incidents.
"Legacy pollution from Joint Base Andrews has already resulted in PFAS contamination in Piscataway Creek and the surrounding area, and this fuel spill adds to existing environmental stressors affecting the watershed," the letter states. "The release has the potential to cause further ecological harm to the Piscataway Creek, which flows into the Potomac River, a key Chesapeake Bay tributary."
The spill at Joint Base Andrews echoes a larger crisis in Hawaii, where a 20,000-gallon jet fuel leak from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in November 2021 contaminated drinking water for some 93,000 people at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, sickening thousands and sparking numerous lawsuits. That incident has fueled broader scrutiny of military fuel storage and spill response protocols.
The Maryland delegation's push for answers comes amid ongoing congressional oversight of military environmental practices, including debates over congressional approval for overseas military actions and national security concerns over prediction markets. The Air Force has not yet publicly responded to the letter.
