Joint Base Andrews Jet Fuel Release
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We are committed to ensuring full accountability for environmental impacts and the restoration of Maryland’s waterways following the release of more than 22,000 gallons of jet fuel from underground pipes into the ground and Piscataway Creek from Joint Base Andrews (JBA) in Prince George’s County.
This includes providing clear, factual information to the community regarding the incident.
The base is a federally-owned military installation. Because it operates a large-scale fuel storage and distribution system, the responsibility for preventing, reporting, containing, and cleaning up fuel spills is the responsibility of the facility owner and operator.
Under Maryland law, facilities that store fuel are required to immediately, but no later than 2 hours after detection, notify the state of any indication of a release. This includes failed system tests, inventory losses, or any evidence of fuel in the soil or surrounding water.
Incident Timeline
The narrative of this release involves several key dates that underscore the importance of prompt reporting to protect public health and the environment:
December 11, 2025: The fuel system at the base failed a precision tightness test.
January – February 2026: System records showed inventory losses during these months.
March 23, 2026: The state received its first notification of the incident. JBA reported to the National Response Center that an oil sheen and petroleum odors were observed in Piscataway Creek.
April 8, 2026: JBA provided MDE with a formal notification that 22,000 gallons of fuel had been released into the environment, out of a total system loss of approximately 32,000 gallons.
As the regulator and enforcement authority for the State of Maryland, MDE’s role is to ensure that Joint Base Andrews fulfills its obligations to the environment and the public.
Enforcement Overview
Upon notification on March 23, MDE immediately mobilized technical experts and inspectors. Our investigation found that JBA’s initial containment and recovery efforts were insufficient and lacked adequate documentation. Consequently, MDE has issued legally binding directives to the base, including:
System Shutdown: MDE ordered the shutdown of the leaking portion of the fuel system and denied requests to restart operations until further notice.
Mandated Investigation: The base was required to remove fuel from all compromised piping and conduct a full investigation into the cause of the system failure.
Advanced Remediation: JBA must implement an aggressive cleanup effort, including a comprehensive subsurface investigation using soil borings, groundwater monitoring wells, and laboratory testing.
Containment: The state directed the upgrade of site containment measures, such as increasing the size and quantities of the underflow dams, to prevent fuel from migrating further into Piscataway Creek and the Potomac River.
Protecting Piscataway Creek
We are overseeing the cleanup to restore any effects to Piscataway Creek. By collecting water samples from the creek to assess the levels of contamination. We recognize that this waterway has a long history of environmental challenges and legacy contamination. However, it remains a vital resource for our community, supporting public recreation and fishing. The public is advised to avoid areas where an odor or sheen are observed or containment equipment.
Our goal is to ensure that the current remediation efforts not only address the recent fuel release but also protect the long-term health of the creek for the residents who enjoy it. MDE will continue to provide updates as the subsurface investigation defines the extent of the impact and recovery efforts progress.
The case number for this incident is 2026-0420PG.
Site Information
Joint Base Andrews is a regulated petroleum storage and handling facility that stores fuel in both underground and aboveground storage systems.
The facility currently operates under:
Underground Storage Tank Registration – Facility ID 7874
Individual Oil Operations Permit No. 2022-OPT-5217
Groundwater Discharge Permit No. 24OGR-1768
State regulatory oversight of the facility has been in place since 1987.
Response Actions
Since discovery of the release, MDE has directed JBA to:
Deploy enhanced spill containment measures in Piscataway Creek
Continue recovery of fuel and petroleum impacted water
Remove fuel from the affected section of the hydrant fuel system
Investigate and repair the source of the release
Conduct weekly surface water sampling
Perform an emergency subsurface investigation in the source area
Recovery activities remain ongoing.
Water Quality Monitoring
Surface water samples began on April 13, 2026. Sampling identified chemicals commonly associated with jet fuel, including:
Some results exceeded Maryland action levels.
Weekly monitoring will continue for as long as necessary to protect public health and the environment.
Inspection Reports
Tabulated Sampling Results, May 4, 2026 (PDF)
Joint Base Andrews Report of Observation, April 17, 2026 (PDF)
Joint Base Andrews Report of Observation, April 20, 2026 (PDF)
Joint Base Andrews Report of Observation, May 4, 2026 (PDF)
Joint Base Andrews Report of Observation, May 6, 2026 (PDF)
Correspondence
More Information
