Aug. 19—Southwest Washington Regional Airport in Kelso opened its new above-ground fuel tanks last week after construction delays.
The airport has worked since 2021 to replace the underground fuel tanks at the old filling location with two new above-ground tanks, located near the main entrance. Replacing the underground tanks reduces the environmental risk of fuel leaking into the soil, especially during an earthquake, and increases their holding capacity.
The two new tanks at the airport hold different kinds of fuel, one with the gasoline mix used by most private planes and one storing stronger jet fuel that is used by medical ambulances and refueling trucks.
New Airport Manager Craig Stommel said the gasoline tank allows pilots to refuel from a pump like a car at a gas station, complete with a debit card reader. Previously, pilots could not directly access the fuel supply without an airport employee's help.
"This makes it pretty much hands-free, in the sense we don't need to have (an employee) out there fueling their aircraft for them," Stommel said.
The airport had to return a state loan when the project was delayed in 2022 due to rising costs, but months later a $1.2 million loan was secured from the state's Community Aviation Revitalization Board. Stommel said the fuel tanks took months longer than expected to arrive but were quick to install.
The final phase of the project was set to begin Monday to deal with the old underground tanks. Stommel said the tanks would be left where they are but drained, cleaned of gas and filled with foam. The old aboveground equipment will be completely removed.
Meet the airport manager
The fuel tank installation is the first major project Stommel oversaw since he took over the airport manager job in the spring. Previous manager Chris Paolini announced his resignation in February to take a job at the Olympia Regional Airport.
Stommel graduated from Mark Morris High School. He said his brother works for Cowlitz County Dive Rescue Team and his mom used to be their secretary.
Stommel took the airport job months after retiring from 28 years with the U.S. Navy, leaving as an electronic maintenance office.
He said he was stationed at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station for the last three years, where he worked on the radar and air traffic control systems for the base. He said he has less hands-on experience with airports but took the job to help improve his home town.
"It's nice to see the progress here," Stommel said. "There's a lot of revitalization at the airport, there are a lot of projects that are moving in a good direction."
Brennen Kauffman is a reporter for The Daily News covering government, with a concentration on Longview and Kelso.
___
(c)2024 The Daily News, Longview, Wash.
Visit The Daily News, Longview, Wash. at www.tdn.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
