Military: Let Nature Deal With F-16 Jet Fuel

[livvy]

Military: Let Nature Deal With F-16 Jet Fuel

By Mike Stark - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Dec 20, 2008 15:39:11 EST

SALT LAKE CITY — Military officials plan to leave alone the remaining jet fuel from two F-16 tanks jettisoned over the Great Salt Lake last week.

Hill Air Force Base officials said they’ll let natural processes break down fuel left in the soil.

Most of the fuel evaporated shortly after impact and there’s no sign that it’s building up in the water or low spots in the area, according to Col. Linda Medler, 75th Air Base Wing Commander. The process of “natural attenuation” will deal with what’s left behind, she said.

“The bacteria population naturally found in the ground is very good at breaking down and eliminating fuels from the environment,” she said in a statement.

The process will take one to three years, she said.

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http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_jetfuel_122008/%2e

[hardeeboy]

1. Fuel

Thats just stupid! I was in aviation when I was in the service and we had all kind of emergency procedures in case of fuel spills and also if a tank was jettisoned. Most of that time thats done because the pilot made a mistake, of course they will deny that. Pilots are spoiled babies that whine about their cockpit window being dirty and other things to the maintenance control office.


I don't know why the AF is doing this, it makes no sense to me. I hope at least they got the tanks out the water. Most military units have their own enviromental compliance people just like the EPA or DHEC has, I think if there is enough public uproar about this, something will be done.