Earlier this week, a Hawaii court ordered the removal of fuel from a massive military fuel storage facility that leaked petroleum into the Navy’s water system at Pearl Harbor last year was overturned, and the United States government withdrew its appeals against the decision.
In a statement to the state and federal courts, the Department of Defense announced the outcome of the case. The military has taken action more than a month after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the military will permanently shut down the tanks and drain all of their fuel.
According to the Hawaii Department of Health, which issued the order, this was a “step in the right direction.”
“While today’s announcement is welcome news, the work must continue,” the administration stated in a statement. It has stated that it will “work rapidly and proactively” to secure “the safe refueling and decommissioning of Red Hill.”
According to Earthjustice attorney David Henkin, who represents the Sierra Club of Hawaii as a party interested in the action, his clients will remain vigilant to ensure that the tanks are immediately de-fueled.
As Henkin described it, the system is a “wonderful Earth Day gift” for Hawaii’s inhabitants, particularly those living on the island of Oahu, who rely on having access to safe, clean drinking water at the press of a button.
There was no response when we reached out to both the Navy and the state’s Department of Health.
Despite the possibility that Austin would change his mind and attempt to keep the tanks open, Henkin stated that the military will now face “an enforceable, unimpeachable, unchallengeable order from the Department of Health” with which they will have no choice but to obey. In the words of Henkin
An order from the Hawaii Department of Health requires the military to remove petroleum from storage tanks 30 days after it has been determined that the fuel is safe to be used. After the military chose to dismiss its appeal, Henkin stated that this deadline will be strictly enforced.
Defense Department engineers are working on plans to get rid of the gasoline, with input from the state’s public health department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This will take time, although it is unclear how long it will take.
In a statement, Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said the decision “clears the way for us to shut down Red Hill this year.”
Schatz stated that the state was unable to assist the Defense Department as a result of the ongoing litigation. As he said, he exerted considerable pressure on the military to make this decision.
After petroleum leaked into drinking water well on Red Hill late last year, around 6,000 individuals, mostly in military barracks, were ill. Medical staff attended to those who were experiencing symptoms such as nausea, headaches, rashes, and more. A total of 4,000 residents were accommodated in hotels while the military repaired its water distribution system.
The tanks also pose a threat to the water supply of Oahu’s 400,000 inhabitants. The reason for this is that they are positioned on top of an aquifer that provides water to both the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, the city’s water utility, and the Navy’s water supply.
Operating at three city-owned well sites has been temporarily halted as the utility assesses whether the aquifer is safe from contamination by oil leaking into it from an area near where the Navy has drilled its well.
Additionally, the city’s water utility and municipal officials are concerned that a second spill will pollute the system’s supply of drinking water.
