Airport Fuel Spill Cleanup Expected to Exceed $600,000

TULLAHOMA, TN - A fuel spill at the Tullahoma Airport that contaminated surrounding water and soil is expected to cost the city more than $600,000 in cleanup expenses, city officials said this week. The incident, which occurred Oct. 29, could have been far worse had the fuel reached Rock Creek.

Alderman Matthew Bird detailed the spill during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, explaining that a LifeFlight crew first noticed the leak early that morning. The release was traced to a bucket hanging from a sump valve handle, which caused the valve to remain about three-quarters open and allow jet fuel to escape.

The Tullahoma Fire Department and Coffee County Emergency Management Agency responded within six minutes, successfully containing the spill and preventing it from flowing further into the stormwater system. An emergency cleanup company was later brought in to address the contamination.

Bird reported that approximately 16,000 gallons of contaminated water and 300 tons of contaminated soil have already been removed, accounting for the bulk of the cleanup costs. The total amount of jet fuel released was estimated at 895 gallons, with about 100 gallons initially unaccounted for.

Further investigation revealed the missing fuel had become trapped in the stormwater system. Using pipeline camera equipment, officials discovered a break in a stormwater pipe dating back to the 1940s, when the airport was first constructed. The damaged pipe was excavated and replaced, and an elevation issue believed to have contributed to the failure was corrected.

Bird noted the city was “fortunate” the surrounding clay soil helped contain the leak. Had the pipe been surrounded by gravel, the fuel could have spread more easily and contaminated groundwater.

The city is now reviewing its insurance coverage, which may not fully cover the incident, and is considering additional protections for future events. Officials are also exploring potential assistance through EPA cleanup and Brownfield grants.

Bird concluded that the root cause of the spill was human error, along with inadequate training and a valve design that lacked safety mechanisms.

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