Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has announced that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) now includes provisions for studying the impact of the 2021 Red Hill fuel leak on both community members and military personnel residing in proximity to the tanks. This announcement comes in light of the Navy’s decision in 2022 to decommission these fuel tanks.
In a news release dated December 8, Senator Schatz confirmed that he had secured the inclusion of legislation within the NDAA that would permit an investigation into the health effects of last year’s fuel spill. “These provisions will help strengthen our national security, support those who serve, and promote greater engagement with our friends and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” said Schatz.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while there have been previous instances of fuel leaks and a fire suppressant leak in 2022 at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, it was specifically the 2021 incident that impacted around 93,000 users of the US Navy water system. The EPA also noted that an interagency team comprising representatives from itself, as well as from the Army, Navy, and Hawaii Department of Health was established in 2021. This team successfully restored the drinking water system by March 2022.
An article published by Associated Press on October 13 reported plans by the U.S. Navy to begin draining World War II-era underground fuel tanks located at Pearl Harbor following a leak. The State of Hawaii has demanded this action to prevent future leaks from occurring.
Honolulu Civil Beat reported two incidents during tank depressurization prior to drainage on November 15, 2023. These incidents resulted in three gallons of fuel leakage. The first occurred on October 16—the initial day of defueling—when a valve leaked within an underground pumphouse. A similar incident took place ten days later outside this pumphouse; however, both leaks were promptly identified and rectified. Honolulu Civil Beat further reported that approximately 104 million gallons of fuel are expected to be removed from these tanks. To ensure that issues such as these leaks are addressed, the fuel removal process is being monitored via cameras and “rovers”.
