U.S. EPA: Andersen Air Force Base Signs Arrangement to Enhance Spill Prevention Plans, Safeguard Water Resources

(04/28/14) HONOLULU - The E.P.A. has finalized an arrangement with Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) in Guam requiring the base to update its oil spill prevention project and address other spill prevention deficiencies at the base to better protect Guam's water resources.

The Federal Facility Compliance Arrangement (FFCA) between E.P.A. and AAFB will require an updated Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) project and changes to the facilities to comply with newer, more stringent oil spill prevention requirements. The new project will include AAFB, the Navy Base, and the petroleum pipeline between the 2 facilities.

"This Arrangement improves the base's ability to safeguard Guam's drinking water and the ocean environment," said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. "We will continue to work with the base to ensure that the island's important natural resources are protected for future generations."

The compliance Arrangement sets a schedule with deadlines for AAFB to:

E.P.A. conducted a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure inspection at the base in 2010 and found several areas where the base was not in compliance with the SPCC requirements. Based on that inspection, E.P.A. issued a Finding of Violation (FOV) on April 5, 2011.

Since the FOV was issued, the base worked closely with E.P.A. to identify and address all SPCC-related deficiencies under this agreement. This compliance Arrangement is one of the 1st with a federal facility since the new E.P.A. SPCC regulations took effect in 2010.

For more information on SPCC Regulations please visit: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/

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