John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary, stated that the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision was based on a new Pentagon assessment. However, it also aligns with an Order from Hawaii’s Department of Health draining fuel from tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
Built into a mountainside during World War II, the tanks had leaked into a water well, contaminating water at Pearl Harbor homes, offices, and homes.
Nearly 6 000 people, most of them living in military housing near Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, were taken to the hospital for treatment for nausea, headaches, and other conditions. Another 4,000 military families were forced from their homes and are now in hotels.
Lauren Wright still remembers feeling nauseated, skin peeling and vomiting. She stopped drinking, showering, and washing dishes with the water from her home.
Wright, her husband, a sailor, and their three children, ages 7-17, have lived in Honolulu hotels since December. The Navy paid for them to have clean water.
“I’m happy that it is a step forward. Wright stated that it should have occurred a long while ago. “Hopefully they don’t drag themselves and the process moves quickly to prevent another leak or spillage.”
According to her, the water she has at home still smells and has a sheen. Wright’s family is looking for a new home. She said her family will not be drinking the water even though officials have approved it to be safe.
“My plan is to not use water or if it’s very important, very little. She said she would not drink it or cook with it. We’ve looked at home filtration systems, but it’s not something I trust. It is not something I want to use for bathing. It’s not safe to use for my teeth.
Austin spoke to Hawaii’s government leaders Monday to inform them about the decision. He said it would protect the environment and lay the foundation for a safer military fueling system.
Austin stated in a statement that “this is the right thing.” Red Hill was constructed in 1943 and centrally located bulk fuel storages of this size made sense. Red Hill has been a valuable asset to our armed forces for many decades. It makes less sense now.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige described it as “great news for Hawaii’s people.”
U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said that she had been encouraging the Pentagon for several weeks to take the decision to shut down.
Hirono, a member the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that “I have always said from the beginning that ensuring Oahu’s safety and health is my highest priority”
According to the Pentagon, it will shift to a dispersed fueling system that is more accessible for military aircraft and ships in the Indo-Pacific. The new assessment shows that the expanded system will prove to be more cost-effective and more secure, as it spreads fuel supplies more widely across the region.
Austin was given the new plan in recommendations by a study group. It would increase fuel contracts with Indo-Pacific territories and countries, as well as add tanker ships that are based at sea. There are only a few tanker ships left, so it would be necessary to build many more.
A team of experts who had studied how to make the tanks safe will now be determining how to shut them down and dispose of the fuel in an environmentally-safe manner. Austin must receive the team’s recommendations by April 31.
The defueling process will start once the facility is able to operate again. It is expected that it will take approximately one year. This means that it should be completed by next year. Austin asked the Navy secretary for a budget to cover all corrective actions for fuel spillages from the facility in the past.
Austin stated that the department will work with local, state and national leaders to clean up contamination and explore other uses of the property once the fueling plant closes. The military will also offer health care for the affected families and workers.
Kaiali’i Kahele, U.S. Rep., stated that the military should also clean up the contaminated aquifer beneath the fuel tanks. This aquifer is used by the Navy’s water system as well as Honolulu’s municipal water utility.
“At this stage, the extent and severity of environmental contamination is unknown. “We know that fuel continues to drip from the rock formations into the fresh water aquifer, right now,” said the Hawaii Democrat in a statement.
Carmen Hulu Lindsey (chair of the Board of Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs) commended Austin’s decision but stated that officials should continue to monitor the situation until the facility is drained.
Lindsey stated in a statement that “being good stewards for Hawai’i’s resources is the expectation of all who use Hawaiian lands or water.”
They can hold 250 million gallon (1.1 billion liters of fuel) and are currently at half capacity. Officials stated that 13 of 20 tanks still have fuel, while two are permanently shut down and five are being repaired.
The Navy isn’t able to determine how the petroleum entered the water. Officials are looking into the possibility that jet fuel escaped from a burst pipe in May and entered a fire suppression system drain pipe. Officials suspect that fuel leaked from the second pipe in November 20, allowing it to enter the drinking water well.
After the leak was discovered in Hawaii, members of Congress and officials from Hawaii demanded the closure of the facility.
In February, the Navy appealed to the state for a closure order. At the time Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Defense Secretary, stated that the appeal would allow the military “to make evidence-based decisions and transparent decisions.”
Lawyers for the Sierra Club of Hawaii intervened in the case and advised that the Navy should now abandon its appeals in federal and state court.
Kirby said Monday that the department is aware that the closure of the fuel facility will not be an immediate fix.
He said, “We still have work to do.” “But, we believe that the Secretary’s decision today is a significant step forward.”
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz is a member the Senate Appropriations Committee. He said that political leaders will have to ensure that the military implements its plans.
He stated, “In order implement this decision we’re going have to provide additional resource and hold (the Department of Defense) feet to fire through congressional oversight.”
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