Santa Fe – Officials at the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today that their technical and regulatory review of a pivotal site characterization document (entitled the "RFI Report") addressing the Kirtland Air Force Base's underground jet fuel leak is nearing completion.

"Under the state's groundwater regulations and the federal Resource and Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), the New Mexico Environment Department is providing the environmental oversight for cleanup of affected groundwater in Albuquerque," said Chief Scientist Dennis McQuillan, who recently returned as NMED's project manager on the KAFB Bulk Fuels Facility project.

A key part of environmental protection is the successful completion of the RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI Report). The RFI characterizes the KAFB jet fuel leak by capturing historic and current data in light of dynamic conditions such as a rising water table and the pump and treat interim cleanup measure which is now active. McQuillan said that NMED's final RFI review is expected in weeks, and that the U.S. Air Force's next steps will be to respond to the modification requests resulting from the review, and to provide an RFI addendum document with additional, required characterization data.

"The regulatory and cleanup process for a complex site like this can seem daunting, but the four phases are actually simple. First there was site investigation which took a number of years. Second, interim cleanup measures began as the characterization process continued in parallel. Now, we are nearing completion of the RFI Report based on that extensive characterization work. The finalized RFI Report is the cornerstone for the third and fourth phases which are the selection of the best corrective measures for cleanup, and ultimately, their implementation," said McQuillan.

To view the RFI Report or for more information about the KAFB Bulk Fuels Facility environmental oversight, visit: https://www.env.nm.gov/kafbfuelplume/.