Lebanon Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment - UNEP

LEBANONPOST-CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTBeirut airport fuel storage tanksThe airport fuel tanks are situated on the easternperimeter of the complex, some 2 km fromthe coast, at 10-12 m above ground level. Theunderlying soil consists of quaternary littoralsands and red soil. After approximately 200 m, thesite is bordered by residential housing, industrialcomplexes and agricultural land.The tank site consists of three tanks of equal size(~ 1,500 m³) set in 40 x 40 m basins with concreteperimeter bund walls. Signage on the tanksindicates that they contain kerosene as Jet FuelA1, which is standard for international airports.Only the northernmost tank was destroyedduring the attacks on the airport, releasing a totalestimated volume of up to 1,500 m³ of kerosene.The relative proportions of kerosene burnt andkerosene leaked into the ground could not bedetermined.At the time of UNEP’s visit, the destroyed tankwas already being dismantled, and the scrap metalcut into sections and removed from the site.Inspection of the concrete base of the tank farmrevealed cracks, which may have been due toexcessive heat from the fire, but also to the ageof the concrete.Contaminated landAuguring was not possible at the site due to thehigh content of rocks and gravel in the underlyingsoil. However, two soil samples were collected byhand from the perimeter of the concrete basin,where a breach had been created to facilitate thedismantling of the damaged tank:One sample was taken from soil underneaththe concrete wall of the impounding basin,approximately 0.3 m above ground level;The second soil sample was taken from belowthe perimeter wall, 0.5 m away from theconcrete base of the impounding basin atground surface level.Both samples consisted of the red soil omnipresentin the coastal areas, with a high mineral andgravel content. Results from the two samples areprovided in table 4.Fire fighters try to extinguish the burning fuel storage tank at Beirut’s airport, 13 July 2006© AP PHOTO – HUSSEIN MALLA50 • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme • United Nations Environment Programme •