GIFF JOHNSON
Bank of Marshall Islands teller operations and the loan department moved out of the main branch three weeks ago and remain displaced due to fuel odors pervading the bank from leakage at the nearby RRE gas station.
“The source of the BOMI odor incident is confirmed as a leak in RRE’s underground fuel lines,” said an RMI EPA Inspection Report issued March 31. “Piping has been replaced, tanks are intact, and leak tests passed. Gasoline in subsurface media near BOMI is being recovered; indoor odor has been eliminated at present.”
EPA said 10,000 gallons of water tainted with gasoline mix had been pumped out and taken for safe storage at MEC. Because of the amount of gas contamination, EPA estimated that pumping will continue for several weeks.
“Current risk to occupants has decreased with indoor odor elimination,” EPA said, adding, however, that “subsurface gasoline poses ongoing risks — vapor intrusion rebound, fire/explosion hazard in confined spaces, soil/groundwater impacts — until recovery is complete.”
As the problem initially developed a month ago, the RRE gas station closed temporarily as RRE maintenance staff attempted to locate the source of the fuel odor that was permeating the nearby bank and the area outside. Although repairs to a leaking pipe were undertaken and completed over two weeks ago, and the fuel station reopened, the odor that caused bank staff to report feeling sickness and dizziness while working in the bank continued to be a problem.
This it turned out was due to groundwater contamination by fuel.
Bank of Marshall Islands shifted its teller operation to the MISCo Handicraft/MIHI building, a short distance down the road from the main bank branch.
Tellers have been in operation over two weeks and counting at this new temporary location.
In addition, the loan department also moved. Loan staff previously worked in the section of the bank closest to the fuel station. They moved to offices on the second floor above the main branch to remain in operation.
The only services still provided at the BOMI branch are debit card operations, new accounts and wire services due to their location being on the side of the bank farthest away from the fuel station.
As of Tuesday this week, RMI EPA said the problem was “90 percent under control pending completion of recovery and verification monitoring.”
EPA made the point, however, that the area could not be declared safe and the matter “closed” until there is “No free product observed for 14 consecutive days; indoor air screening remains below action levels with no petroleum odor; (and) submission/approval of a Site Closure or Long-Term Monitoring Plan.”
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