Walters fuel station closed for repairs, scheduled to reopen Friday
Work began Tuesday to repair the underground fuel storage systems and associated equipment at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Gas Station, building 331, near the Walters Street Gate. The job is slated to conclude Friday.
Although customers cannot fuel their cars during this time, the Express store is still open for business and operating on a normal schedule.
Separate underground storage systems exist for each grade of gas. At the Walters Street Gate station three systems store and dispense unleaded, mid-grade and super-grade fuel.
A recent inspection revealed refueling points in each system at ground level were overly corroded. When parts of the system become corroded over time, gas may seep into the ground contaminating soil and ground water according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“We are going to replace all of the corroded parts,” explained Douglas Norghrop, site supervisor. “Repairs to tanks happen all the time. Degradation happens, corrosion happens so they have to be maintained just like your car.
“In addition we are going into the sump area where the submersible pumps are that get the fuel from the tank to the dispenser and then your vehicle to replace the piping and flex hoses before something breaks,” Norghrop said.
The fiberglass barrier around each fuel storage tank will also be replaced.
“The barrier is specifically made for each tank,” explained Christine Goodwin, AAFES retail business manager. “Measurements were taken Tuesday and sent to the manufacturer while the rest of the repairs continue.”
“Once repairs are complete and the barrier is in place, the tanks are tested to ensure there are no leaks or environmental issues,” Goodwin said, adding that the barriers are scheduled to be put into place and tested Friday.
If the systems are compliant to state codes then repairs will commence at the AAFES Gas Station located in building 2610 at Schofield and Scott roads.
“We don’t want to shut down Schofield until we know Walters is 100 percent compliant,” Goodwin stressed. “We are on schedule to go on Monday to Schofield, but customers will still be able to shop at the Express and use Firestone.”