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Army Settles Fuel Tank Issues At Walter Reed Medical Center

Release Date: 5/16/2002
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Army has settled alleged violations of fuel storage tank regulations at Walter Reed Medical Center facilities in Washington D.C. and Silver Spring, Md., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

On June 21, 2000, an inspection by EPA of the two facilities revealed that the Army had failed to report suspected fuel leaks to the appropriate District or Maryland environmental officials, and failed to take required spill prevention measures at certain underground storage tanks. The violations involved 11 diesel fuel and gasoline underground tanks at both facilities, ranging in capacity from 1,000 to 20,000 gallons.

In a consent agreement with EPA, the Army has agreed to pay a $36,195 penalty, and install and operate a $108,000 leak detection alarm system for 37 underground storage tanks and above-ground tanks at the two facilities.

The Army has corrected the cited violations, and certified that it is now in compliance with applicable federal fuel tank regulations. As part of the settlement, the Army neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations.