CLEANUP IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SOON ON THAT HUGE UNDERGROUND FUEL SPILL AT KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE. STATE ENVIRONMENT AND BASE OFFICIALS SAY FULL-SCALE TESTING IS STARTING ON A SYSTEM FOR PUMPING CONTAMINATED WATER FROM THE AQUIFER THAT FEEDS ALBUQUERQUE'S WATER SUPPLY.
OFFICIALS BELIEVE AS MUCH AS 24 MILLION GALLONS OF AIRCRAFT FUEL LEAKED FROM UNDERGROUND TANKS OVER A PERIOD OF 40 YEARS. THAT WOULD MAKE IT TWICE THE SIZE OF THE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL.
