AUSTIN, Texas — As the Austin City Council weighs the fate of a new jet fuel facility amid environmental concerns from neighbors, some long-time Austinites might be remembering the massive gas and petroleum tank farm in East Austin.
For years, neighbors and environmental advocates worked to shut down the farm. It was built in 1948 by big oil companies and grew to cover 50 acres of land off Springdale Road and Airport Boulevard.
Together, tanks for six oil companies held more than 10 million gallons of toxic fuel – right next to homes and within a mile of seven schools in the area.
Over time, the negative effects of the fuel on the soil, air, groundwater and the neighbors themselves became overwhelming.
The tank farm didn't close until the 1990s, and efforts to clean up the contamination left behind went on for decades.
According to the Austin Watershed Department, even now, state regulations won't allow future residential use of the space. It wasn't until last year that a plan was approved to finally renovate the land where the tank farm sat.
Now, work is underway on a project called Springdale Green, which will include office space, parks and an amphitheater. That project is expected to be completed late next year.
Despite the connection some Austinites might be making, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials have noted the differences between the old tank farm and the planned jet fuel facility.
The East Austin tank farm was 52 acres and the tanks held petroleum that emitted gasoline fumes. An airport presentation noted that the farm was poorly managed, lacked adequate safety designs and inspections and the tanks were structurally compromised. The tanks were also as close to four to five feet from homes.
Meanwhile, the new jet fuel storage facility would be 10.5 acres, operated and managed by Jet-A fuel experts and regularly inspected by the City and Austin Fire Department. Fire officials also told the city council that Jet-A fuel is significantly less volatile when compared to gasoline. The planned jet fuel farm is also planned for the west side of the airport, next to US 183 and across the highway from the neighborhood.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: