Maryland lawmakers seek answers on Joint Base Andrews fuel spill

Karl Hille, The Baltimore Sun on Oct 29, 2026

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Maryland’s Congressional delegation on Wednesday pressed the Trump administration for answers and action on the cleanup of spilled jet fuel from Joint Base Andrews that contaminated Piscataway Creek in Prince George’s County earlier this year.

“After more than seven months, the Air Force has failed to fully contain the fuel spill, as demonstrated by continued signs of fuel contamination detected in Piscataway Creek by the Maryland Department of the Environment,” the letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink reads. “This delay in fully addressing the fuel spill is unacceptable.”

The fuel spill was discovered in March after an estimated 22,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from a refueling system and spilled into the environment in the Clinton area. 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 delegation asked how much fuel has reached the creek, how much remains in the ground and how much has been recovered. It also sought details on soil and groundwater remediation and asked for a written response by Nov. 12.

The letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Reps. Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney and Johnny Olszewski.

Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain also sent a letter Wednesday to the leadership of Joint Base Andrews claiming fuel continues to leak into Piscataway Creek and calling out the slow pace of progress on repairs and cleanup.

“My concern is not simply whether the base is meeting regulatory requirements. It is whether we are doing everything necessary to protect Maryland’s waterways and the communities that depend on them. The presence of petroleum contamination in Piscataway Creek makes this responsibility especially important,” McIlwain wrote in a letter to Col. Karl W. Seekamp, commander of the 316th Airwing at Andrews.

The U.S. Air Force communications office referred questions to Joint Base Andrews, but attempts to reach the base at the provided number were unsuccessful.

McIlwain said the documentation received from Andrews officials on aspects of the testing and repairs through Oct. 23 represents progress, but “the pace of that progress has not matched the urgency of the situation,” and, she added, “continued delays are not acceptable.”

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