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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - A fuel system failure at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport released about 10,000 gallons of fuel into the airport’s storm water system and the Flint River, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA said about 8,000 gallons of fuel have been removed from the Flint River, along with 3,000 gallons from airport property, 36,000 gallons of Petroleum Contact Water, and 10 cubic yards of oil-contaminated debris.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division said all water sources have been tested and are safe, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Flint River runs roughly 344 miles through the state, including under Hartsfield-Jackson, and flows through Albany, the largest city on the river.

This spill is nearly eight times larger than the airport’s last major fuel spill in 2021. Hartsfield-Jackson was given a $40,000 fine for that incident.

The EPA said a fuel pit hydrant valve connected to a fuel system pipeline at the airport caused the spill.

The EPA said it has “concluded its on‑site operations and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) will continue to provide oversight.”

“EPA will maintain close coordination with state and local authorities until cleanup objectives are achieved,” the agency said.

We’ve reached out to Gordon Rogers, who has been the Flint Riverkeeper for over a decade, as this recent spill is raising concerns over water safety and transparency. The organization’s main focus is the quantity and quality of water.

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