Petroleum Release
Management Program
Program Manager Contact Information:
Petroleum Release Management
Program Manager | 252-466-3631
The intent of the Petroleum Release Management Program is to develop and implement restoration activities for petroleum-contaminated sites. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, the outlying fields, and Air Station tenants rely heavily on the use of petroleum fuels, which are stored in aboveground storage tanks (ASTs), underground storage tanks (USTs), and transferred through fuel pipelines. Several leaks and spills have occurred from ASTs, USTs, and fuel pipelines since the Air Station has been in operation. Soil and groundwater have been contaminated as a result.
Marine Corps policy requires that all Marine Corps installations and activities comply with all applicable environmental requirements, which may include Federal, state, local, Department of Defense (DoD) Department of the Navy (DON), Marine Corps, and MCAS Cherry Point rules, regulations, and requirements. Legal and other environmental requirements related to the Petroleum Release Management Program are maintained on the EM Portal.
A complete description of the responsibilities of the Petroleum Release Management Program is available on the EM Portal. Major components of the Petroleum Release Management Program include:
UST and Non-UST Petroleum Release Site Investigation and Remediation
Site investigation and remediation activities of petroleum-contaminated sites are categorized as UST-related or non-UST related due to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Waste Management (DWM) program structure. Rules and regulations pertaining to petroleum contamination from leaking USTs or non-USTs are contained in NCDEQ guidance documents. These guidance documents prescribe methods for initial response, notification, and assessment of the extent of the contamination; sampling, monitoring, and corrective action planning; and remediation, permitting, and closure.
It is the responsibility of the Petroleum Release Management Program Manager to identify contamination that has resulted from leaking USTs, ASTs, fuel piping, and surface spills and to report such releases to the UST Section of NCDEQ DWM. Action should be taken as soon as possible to initiate the investigation and remediation process as prescribed in the guidance documents.
There are no additional training requirements associated with this program.
The risk of negative environmental impacts from MCAS Cherry Point operations may be assessed by analyzing the practices that occur at the facility. Aspects are the characteristics of these practices that can cause an impact to the environment or other resource. It is Marine Corps policy that all Marine Corps installations identify and assess the environmental risks of the practices and aspects associated with each environmental program. Significant practices and/or aspects associated with this program include:
-
Fueling and fuel management/storage/Spill
-
Fueling and fuel management/storage/Hazardous material use
-
Fueling and fuel management/storage/Fuel use
-
Storage tank management/Spill
-
Storage tank management/Fuel use
When necessary, objectives and targets (O&T) are developed in order to minimize the environmental risks posed by the facility’s practices and to track progress towards achieving environmental goals. Any O&Ts related to the Petroleum Release Management Program and their associated actions to improve performance are maintained on the EM Portal. There is currently one O&T developed:
Objective: Spill minimization, education, and reporting campaign.
Target: Conduct at least two annual spill drills with a randomly selected unit/department. Each scenario is to include the Fire Department, Safety Office, EAD, unit/department, etc.
The Petroleum Release Management Program Manager must inspect all UST-related and non-UST related petroleum investigation and restoration projects and oversee contractor activities.