Elmendorf exercise practices hazardous spill clean up

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --  Nearly 60 members from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron participated in an annual Fall Spill Drill here Sept. 14-18.

The drill simulates a fuel spill into one of the base's surrounding lakes and trains 611th CES Airmen on proper containment and clean up procedures. This was the first of two such exercises the base will conduct this year. The second will take place in the winter, after the lake has frozen over.

The 611th CES is the only civil engineer squadron in the Air Force that is regulated to practice this strategy hands-on because of the bases' remoteness, said Maj. Erik Sell, 611th CES Operations Flight commander.

A majority of the squadron members are relatively new to the 611th CES, and for most of them this was their first time practicing these procedures.

"They're doing well and they're picking up (the procedures) quickly," Major Sell said. "These guys seem to be real interested in this. It's something new, exciting and different from their everyday job."

The simulated spill took place Sept. 17 at Sixmile Lake. The group went through tactic and safety briefings in the morning and then heard the scenario. Reacting quickly, the group roped off the simulated hazardous areas, set up decontamination equipment and made an entry point to keep track of personnel.

The group then deployed containment, recovery and hazardous waste storage equipment. This equipment included a boom, which keeps the hazardous liquid contained in a controlled area; drum skimmers, which collect the waste and scrape it off on a blade as it rotates; and a rope-mop skimmer, which uses a long feathered rope that moves through the water in a circular motion, wiping off any waste as it passes through the machine.

"Without this training, they wouldn't have a clue on how this equipment operates," Mr. Lurk said. "This training is absolutely necessary if and when a spill ever occurs."

Major Sell said the 611th CES area of responsibility is all Air Force communication and radar sites throughout remote Alaska. These sites range from Eareckson Air Station at Shemya to Point Barrow Long Range Radar Site on the North Slope to locations in Southeast Alaska and throughout the state's interior. Many of these sites are along the state's coastline and are capable of storing one million gallons of fuel.

"So far, we're fortunate we haven't had to respond to a spill," said the major. "The training was a huge success. The 611th CES stands ready to respond to an oil spill incident anywhere in the state at any time."

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Nearly 60 members from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron practiced cleaning up a hazardous spill Sept. 17 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The 611th CES held its annual Fall Spill Drill Sept. 14-18. The 611th CES members are required to do hands-on training twice a year, one in the winter and practiced on thick ice and the second in the fall before the ice freezes over. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross)

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John Rose, 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, fixes a weather vane Sept. 17 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The weather vane helped 611th CES members know which direction and how fast the wind was blowing. This helped predict where the hazardous waste would spread on the water during their annual Fall Spill Drill held Sept. 14-18. The 611th CES members are required to do hands-on training twice a year, one in the winter and practiced on thick ice and the second in the fall before the ice freezes over. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross)

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Tech. Sgt. Robert Lewallen, 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Staff Sgt. James McCormick, 611th CES, connect a hose extension Sept. 17 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The 611th CES held its annual Fall Spill Drill Sept. 14-18. The 611th CES is required to do hands-on training twice a year, one in the winter and practiced on thick ice and the second in the fall before the ice freezes over. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross)

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Tech. Sgt. Douglas McMullen, 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, helps assemble a decontamination unit Sept. 17 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The 611th CES held its annual Fall Spill Drill Sept. 14-18 here. Squadron members are required to do hands-on training twice a year, one in the winter and practiced on thick ice and the second in the fall before the ice freezes over. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross)