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.
