On May 24, 2010 at approximately 0815 hours, EPA OSC Glenn and USCG personnel arrived at the Cyril King International Airport in St. Thomas, PR to meet DPNR representatives. A privately owned vehicle parked at the terminal was found to be leaking diesel fuel from a 100 gallon portable tank located in the bed of the pick-up truck. The fuel was leaking into a storm drain that leads directly to the Caribbean Sea.
A parking receipt found inside the vehicle stated that the vehicle was parked at the airport on May 22, 2010. The owner of the truck, Ronny Hodge of APEX Construction, was contacted. Mr. Hodge, however, was not on the Island and not expected to return anytime soon.
The Virgin Islands Port Authority Fire Department arrived on-scene and secured the parking lot, provided traffic control, and provided fire control support as a precaution. DPNR provided sobent boom, absorbent materials, pads, and tools. VI Regulated Waste was contacted and pumped the remaining fuel out of the tank. EPA, USCG, and DPNR cleaned the parking lot with absorbent material, surveyed and secured the drainage area, and removed product located in the bed of the vehicle. A towing company removed the vehicle and towed the truck to a holding area operated by DPNR.
It is estimated that 25 gallons of fuel was lost from the malfunctioning tank. Although fuel did not reach the Ocean, heavy rains later in the day could have caused additional concerns should the material not have been removed.
