Whidbey Island Naval Air Station; Coupeville, Washington

Coupeville, Washington | 1988-Aug-12

Initial Notification: On August 12, 1988, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO), Puget Sound, received a report of a spill near the U.S. Naval Float Plane Base on Whidbey Island. Investigation and discussions with the Navy revealed that a valve on one of a series of underground storage tanks had been left open for several days. JP-5 fuel had escaped into the surrounding drainage system and had eventually flowed into an old drain pipe which emptied into Puget Sound. Approximately 500 gallons was released into the Sound before the spill was discovered and the valve closed. USCG district 13.