Closure of Underground Storage Tanks at DFSP Moffett Field
Client
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Los Angeles District on behalf of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Location
Moffett Federal Airfield, Santa Clara County, California
Project Overview
Oneida provided environmental engineering, construction support, shoring design coordination, and dewatering services for the closure and removal of five inactive bulk fuel underground storage tanks at the former Defense Fuel Supply Point (DFSP) Moffett Field. The facility historically stored approximately 56,500 barrels, or more than 2.3 million gallons, of fuel and operated until fuel operations ceased in 2003. The project was performed for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on behalf of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and required coordination with numerous stakeholders, including NASA Ames Research Center and multiple regulatory agencies.
After initial removal efforts were halted because of unexpectedly high groundwater conditions, Oneida designed and implemented a shoring and dewatering solution, allowing tank removal activities to safely resume. The project involved closure and removal of four large bulk fuel tanks and supporting infrastructure while maintaining regulatory compliance, managing groundwater, and protecting surrounding environmental resources.
Services Provided
- Environmental engineering
- Underground storage tank closure and removal
- Regulatory compliance support
- Shoring system design coordination and installation
- Groundwater dewatering system design and operation
- Permitting
- Agency and stakeholder coordination
- Utility investigation and clearance
- Waste management and disposal documentation
- Excavation, backfill, and compaction
- Environmental sampling and analysis
- Biological monitoring and habitat mitigation
- Construction quality control
- Project management
- Environmental reporting
Key Highlights
- Supported closure and removal of five inactive underground fuel storage tanks with a combined storage capacity of approximately 56,500 barrels (2.37 million gallons)
- Installed approximately 1,000 linear feet of sheet pile shoring to depths of 45 feet below ground surface to facilitate safe excavation and tank removal
- Designed and operated a dewatering system that discharged more than five million gallons of groundwater during removal activities
- Removed approximately 1,766 tons of steel from the site for recycling
- Achieved zero lost time safety incidents during more than 125 days of field operations
Approach
Oneida began the project by developing permit applications, project plans, health and safety documentation, quality assurance procedures, and environmental compliance strategies needed to support tank closure activities. The team coordinated with USACE, DLA, NASA, Santa Clara County regulators, State Water Resources Control Board, and other stakeholders to obtain required approvals and establish safe work procedures.
Following identification of elevated groundwater conditions, Oneida implemented a comprehensive shoring and dewatering approach to support excavation of the large underground tanks. Sheet pile shoring was installed around excavation areas, and groundwater extraction wells were connected to a controlled dewatering system that allowed the tanks to be safely accessed and removed. Excavated soils were segregated to maximize reuse as backfill material, reducing imported fill requirements and lowering project costs. Throughout construction, the team maintained regulatory compliance, coordinated environmental protection measures, and monitored sensitive biological resources, including burrowing owl habitat, while maintaining project schedule and safety objectives.
Results and Impact
The project advanced long term closure of a former military fuel storage facility while addressing significant engineering and environmental challenges associated with deep excavations and shallow groundwater conditions. Oneida successfully restarted and executed removal operations that had previously been placed on hold, enabling safe removal of four major fuel storage tanks and associated infrastructure. The combination of permitting, dewatering, shoring, demolition, environmental compliance, and restoration activities supported progress toward regulatory closure objectives while protecting site resources and maintaining safe operations. The project demonstrated Oneida’s ability to manage complex environmental construction efforts involving multiple agencies, large scale infrastructure removal, and challenging subsurface conditions.
Deliverable 2: Marketing Description
Oneida provided environmental engineering, shoring, dewatering, permitting, and construction support services for closure of five large underground fuel storage tanks at the former Defense Fuel Supply Point Moffett Field. The project included groundwater management, installation of extensive sheet pile shoring, removal of approximately 1,766 tons of steel, and coordination with multiple agencies to support safe tank removal, environmental compliance, and long-term site closure objectives.
