Source of kerosene leaking into subway
tunnel near Yongsan is still unknown
By Jeremy Kirk, Seoul bureau
chief
YONGSAN GARRISON — U.S. and South Korean officials are still determining the
source of kerosene that is leaking into a subway tunnel near the post here.
Officials from Seoul, the South Korean Environment Ministry and U.S. Forces Korea
agreed Oct. 26 to take underground water samples to determine why the fuel is collecting
in the tunnel near the Noksapyong station.
"These measurements were taken last week, and our scientists are now studying them
along with the rest of the data they have been collecting in the study," said Lt.
Col. Daniel J. Worth of the Directorate of Public Works.
The fuel is mixed with natural water and has been seeping from the rock in the tunnel
between the Itaewon and Noksapyong stations. Korean officials, who have said the fuel
poses no fire danger, also have asked if the fuel came from Yongsan Garrison, the largest
U.S. Army post in Seoul.
A suspected area is on South Post, site of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas
station. USFK contracted with Samsung Corp. to dig 22 monitoring wells near the station.
Gasoline was found in two of the wells, but no kerosene. Small amounts of gas are being
pumped out, Worth said.
The U.S. military widely uses JP-8, a modified version of kerosene, for heating oil and
vehicles. But checks of heating oil tanks in the area revealed no leaks, Worth said.
"We have tested, inspected and, in some cases, even removed heating fuel oil tanks
from a wide area around the corner of the base closest to the subway station, but have not
found any potential source of this fuel," Worth said.
Officials are trying to determine how the natural water and fuel moves through the
granite below the ground. Results from underground testing should be available by
year’s end, Worth said.
USFK is spending about $100 million to upgrade fuel facilities over the next three
years. Upgrades are being made to underground fuel lines and stations, officials said.
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