Ground breaking ceremony held for new government vehicle fuel station at AEDC

  • Published
  • By Raquel March
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  A recent ground breaking at AEDC marks the beginning of construction for a new Ground Vehicle Fueling Facility for official government vehicles.

The $3.4 million effort is a Military Construction project funded by the Defense Logistics Agency with the U.S. Corps of Engineers serving as the design and construction agent. CAPE Environmental Management, Inc. is the design/build contractor.

According to Nick Hibdon, energy/utility program manager with the AEDC Civil Engineering Branch, the fueling facility will be an upgrade from the existing gas station.
"The current fuel station was constructed in 1953 and is less than 50 percent functional," Hibdon said. "A bonus is that we will move from storing fuel in underground storage tanks to above ground tanks. There are additional risks and monitoring requirements that go along with underground tanks since the tanks cannot be visually inspected like an above ground tank."

All base operation vehicles are fueled through the current fuel station on Fifth Street. A benefit of the new station is improved safety due to a modern design that features a fenced facility and a location away from main traffic routes.

The facility, located adjacent to the bulk fuel farm, is expected to be operational by the end of October.

Hibdon said, "Once construction is complete, we will then demo the current fuel station; specifically the underground tanks, pumps and canopy."

-AEDC-