Joint Base Andrews fuel leak pollutes Potomac River tributary, triggers state probe

Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun on Apr 13, 2026

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BALTIMORE — Jet fuel leaks at Joint Base Andrews have spilled an estimated 32,000 gallons since the start of the year — enough to fuel a Boeing 787 — contaminating a tributary of the Potomac River and prompting a state investigation, state officials said Monday.

Potomac Riverkeepers called for the state to investigate potential criminal activity, saying it appears Andrews officials worked to conceal the problem from the state.

“This needs to be a criminal investigation,” Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks told The Baltimore Sun. “They withheld information and they did not report the leaks when they were required to do so.”

State regulators said the base failed to report the leak as required under its oil permit and did not notify Maryland officials until April 8. The base’s leak detection system failed multiple times between January and March, but MDE was not notified until a smell and sheen appeared near the headwaters of Piscataway Creek. The situation worsened earlier this month when a containment dam collapsed during heavy rain, allowing additional fuel to escape.

“While Maryland values its deep ties to federal defense installations across the state, contaminating Maryland’s land and water is unacceptable,” Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain said in a statement. “The state and the local community deserve answers and a robust response.”

The Maryland Department of the Environment said the leak originated from a faulty aircraft refueling system that has since been shut down. An unknown amount of fuel reached Piscataway Creek, which flows into the Potomac River. Officials said there is no threat to regional drinking water because intake systems are located upstream.

The agency added it is conducting soil and water sampling in nearby streams to find the extent of the contamination.

Base officials reported the leak as a total of 22,000 gallons in a separate press release, and told the state they recovered 10,000 gallons of fuel before it reached the creek.

Representatives of the base said they became aware of the leak when personnel discovered discoloration and odors from Piscataway Creek within the base boundaries on March 23.

“The installation continues to work closely with regulatory partners to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to address the release and protect surrounding waterways and ecosystems,” the Air Force release states. “The base is also coordinating with public health agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the base populace and surrounding communities.”

State inspectors ordered the Air Force to conduct an emergency soil investigation to trace the fuel’s movement, drill and install monitoring wells, treat affected soils and provide the state with daily updates on all cleanup progress.

MDE advises the public to avoid swimming in areas of Piscataway Creek where an oil sheen is visible on the surface, or near any containment booms, and keep pets from those waters.

Jet fuel exposure can cause eye, skin or respiratory irritation. The creek also suffers from pre-existing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or PFAS, contamination that has been measured in fish since 2020. MDE advises against eating bass or sunfish from the creek.

“Fish taken from Piscataway Creek has the highest concentration of PFAS of anwhere in Southern Maryland,” Naujoks said.

The incident follows another high-profile water contamination event earlier this year, when tens of millions of gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Baltimore-area waterways, raising concerns about aging infrastructure and delayed reporting. Reporting by The Baltimore Sun found that incident also drew scrutiny from regulators over compliance and transparency, echoing concerns now facing officials at Joint Base Andrews.

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