Japan, US Military Cleanup Hachinohe Fuel Stations

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jerry Foltz | A five ton dump truck is loaded with sediment at the FISC Yokosuka Defense Fuel Support Point Hachinohe. The combined efforts were part of a continuing endeavor to restore full operations to the FISC Yokosuka Defense Fuel Support Point Hachinohe from earthquake-related damage that was sustained March 11, 2011.  

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

04.01.2011

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Jerry Foltz 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

HACHINOHE, Japan – U.S. Navy Seabees, along with more than 15 members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, airmen from the 35th Civil Engineers Squadron, and Hachinohe City employees provided cleanup efforts at the Hachinohe Main Fuel Terminal and Fuel Pump Station 2, March 31, 2011.

"This is a joint effort between us and the U.S. Navy to help out as best we can," said JMSDF Lt. Jyuna Seno.

The combined efforts were part of a continuing endeavor to restore full operations to the FISC Yokosuka Defense Fuel Support Point Hachinohe from earthquake-related damage that was sustained March 11, 2011.

"We set some clear goals for how to get DFSP Hachinohe back operational and I think the JMSDF was happy to join in with what they saw was as decisive action," said Lt. Dustin Glazier, Naval Air Facility, Misawa's Public Works Officer. "They immediately began removing debris and sediment,"

For the past 13 days, JMSDF has provided over 1,600 man-hours of support toward the restoration effort, providing basic maintenance and debris removal from the fuel stations and the 22 kilometers of pipeline that connects the fuel terminals to Misawa Air Base.

Seabees and JMSDF members bulldozed tons of debris to rally points for Air Force CES personnel to pickup and transport for disposal.

At Pump Station 2, Seabees and Hachinohe city workers cleared water drainage systems, redistributing thousands of gallons of non-contaminated water into nearby reservoirs.

"We have to make sure we get all the mud and water out of this station in order to get it operational again," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Hannah, builder. "This is one of the main terminals that helps Misawa get its fuel."

Although there is still tons of debris left at the terminal sites, the crews are confidents that they should be able to return to normal operations within the month.

"The progress of our operation is almost complete," said Seno.

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• Date Taken: 04.01.2011
• Date Posted: 04.01.2011 04:08
• Story ID: 68081
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP