Director at Kelso airport finishes moving fuel tanks above ground

LONGVIEW — 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. 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 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 underground tanks. Stommel said the tanks would be left where they are but drained, cleaned of gas and filled with foam. The old above-ground equipment will be completely removed.