USFK apologizes to Korean farmers
for possible fuel leaks near Camp Long
By Jim Lea, Osan bureau chief
CAMP LONG, South Korea — U.S. Forces Korea apologized to farmers
near this camp Tuesday for two “possible” fuel leaks.
Although officials said the source of the leaks still has not been
found, Army Col. Glenn DeSoto, Area III commander, said surveys “strongly indicate
[the fuel] is consistent with the properties found in JP-8 and is probably coming from our
installation.”
JP-8 is a fuel nearly identical to kerosene that USFK uses to fuel
generators, boilers and some vehicles. It is not available commercially on the South
Korean market.
USFK, the South Korean Environment Ministry and environmental
officials from the city of Wonju have been conducting a joint survey since the first leak
was reported on May 26. A second leak was reported in July.
DeSoto said USFK “is doing everything possible to correct the
situation and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”
He issued the apology even though the source of the leaks has not
been determined because, “we believe the contamination is coming from Camp
Long.”
After the first contamination report, an above ground fuel tank at
Wonju Air Station, a small seismological research station on a mountaintop inside Camp
Long, was checked for leakage.
There were no leaks from the tank itself, but fuel was detected
dripping from a small underground pipe that connects the tank to an adjacent generator
building. That leak was fixed immediately, but officials could not determine whether or
not that leak had cause contamination off post.
Two other tanks in the same area also were checked, but no leaks were
found, according to John Anderson, USFK alternate chairman of the Status of Forces
Agreement Environmental Subcommittee.
Tests on 20 other fuel tanks in the vicinity began on Monday,
Anderson said.
Camp Long officials said all above ground fuel tanks at the camp are
filled by truck, and there is no extensive underground fuel pipe system at Long. There
also are no underground fuel tanks, they said.
USFK has spent $15,000 on fuel tank leak tests so far and $100,000 to
bore the monitoring wells.
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