EPA Approves Joint Task Force-Red Hill
Pre-Defueling Preparedness Report
Decision paves way for safe defueling
operations to begin
Media Contact:
Michael Brogan, 415-295-9314, brogan.michael@epa.gov
HONOLULU (October
3, 2023) – Today,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the Joint Task
Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) Defueling Preparedness Report outlining how safe
defueling will proceed at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base
Pearl Harbor-Hickam. JTF-RH must begin defueling operations within 15 calendar
days once the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) approves moving forward with
the defueling process.
"EPA’s approval of the joint task force report is a significant
milestone in the process to safely defuel Red Hill,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional
Administrator Martha Guzman. "This decision reflects our
collaborative efforts with Hawai‘i Department of Health to work with the
Department of Defense on ensuring the closure of the facility and protection of
the area’s drinking water. This work is critical to safeguarding public health
and the environment on Oahu.”
Under the June 2023 Consent Order on Red Hill, the EPA required JTF-RH to
submit the Defueling Preparedness Report prior to the start of defueling. The
report certifies that:
- All repairs, operational changes, and training have
been completed as prescribed under the DOD’s defuel plan.
- All repairs have gone through proper third-party
quality assurance verification.
- Navy Region Hawai‘i has updated their Spill Prevention,
Control, and Countermeasure Plan to EPA’s satisfaction.
- EPA has approved JTF-RH’s updated Facility Response
Plan.
- Tank tightness testing of sumps within the lower access
tunnel has been completed.
During defueling, EPA will be onsite and on-call for the duration of the
operation to provide technical assistance and monitor for any anomalies in the
defueling process.
In addition, the EPA will participate in a JTF-RH
Defueling Open House to be held today from 4-6 p.m. HT at the Harry and
Jeannette Weinberg Memorial Hall located in Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial Park, 2685
North Nimitz Highway, in Honolulu. The open house allows JTF-RH and relevant
state and federal agencies to engage with community leaders and members of the
public and provide updates on the defueling status. In addition, on Wednesday,
October 4, the EPA will take part in the first convening of the Community
Representation Initiative focused on plans for defueling.
Following the November 2021 contamination of Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam’s drinking water system, the Hawai‘i Department of Health issued
an emergency order to the Navy that required the Navy to cease all operations
at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and defuel and close the 20
underground storage tanks, surge tanks, and associated piping.
The Secretary of Defense ordered the closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel
Storage Facility and, subsequently, the United States Indo-Pacific Command
established JTF-RH to carry out that order.
DOH then issued a superseding order on May 6, 2022. In June 2023, the EPA
finalized an Administrative Consent Order with the Navy and the Defense
Logistics Agency that requires the safe defueling and closure of the Red Hill
facility. The actions required by the consent order support DOH’s emergency
order and require the Navy and DLA to minimize risks from the movement of fuel
throughout the Red Hill facility during defueling and closure.
Read the EPA Letter
of Approval of RHBFSF Defueling Preparedness Report.
Read the Final
2023 Consent Order and Statement of Work on EPA’s website.
Read about EPA’s work at the Red
Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawai‘i.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment