Hawaii Red Hill Water Crisis | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

EPA says military violated Red Hill consent decree, issues fine

Kevin Knodell — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency says the military violated a federal consent decree when officials chose not to attend a Dec. 12 public meeting with the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative.

The Navy to hold public meetings on draft EIS for Pacific training

Kevin Knodell — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Navy’s draft environmental impact statement on continued training in the Pacific proposes more frequent use of nearshore areas such as Kaneohe Bay and Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, along with new activities that include training in ocean mine warfare.

EPA amends 2023 Red Hill order

Victoria Budiono — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency on Tuesday finalized amendments to the 2023 Red Hill Administrative Consent Order with the aim to “improve public outreach during closure and cleanup of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, as well as continued efforts to safeguard drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.”

Red Hill Registry launches virtual focus groups

Victoria Budiono — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The University of Hawaii is hosting virtual focus groups to help shape the development of the Red Hill Registry, a new initiative aimed at connecting those affected by the Red Hill water crisis with resources and tracking health impacts over time.

Editorial: Take Navy to task over fuel disaster

None — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The ugly reality of Red Hill has risen to the surface once again, and it’s much worse than previously divulged.

Column: Red Hill medical data must see release

None — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Department of Defense’s inspector general (IG) report released last week provides another disheartening blow to families sickened during the 2021 fuel leak as we learned the Navy missed not one, but four opportunities to warn us. The report validates local leaders like Honolulu Board of Water Supply chief Ernie Lau and other Hawaii residents who publicly shared years-long concerns about the safety of the aging fuel storage facility located just 100 feet from Oahu’s sole-source aquifer.

Red Hill Crisis: Pentagon reports detail poor recordkeeping across Oahu fueling operations

Kevin Knodell — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:06:00 +0000

On Thursday the Pentagon’s Inspector General office released long-awaited reports on the Navy’s fuel and water systems on Oahu.

Toxic fire suppressant spills reviewed

Victoria Budiono — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released a management advisory report Thursday detailing concerns about the Navy’s handling of spills involving thousands of gallons of aqueous film- forming foam concentrate — a toxic fire suppressant containing “forever chemicals” — at Red Hill from 2019 to 2022.

Notable items from the Pentagon investigations

Kevin Knodell — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

FAILURE POINTS

Navy water system upgrade under intense scrutiny

Kevin Knodell — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Navy is upgrading and renovating its Oahu water system that serves 93,000 island residents, having demolished an old water storage tank with a replacement currently under construction — and with more planned upgrades along the way.

Star-Advertiser editorials on Red Hill crisis bring accolades

Star-Advertiser Staff — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial page editor Lucy Young-Oda won second- place honors in a national journalism contest for her editorials on the U.S. Navy’s response to the Red Hill water contamination crisis.

Navy says EPA report that found low-level contamination proves water is ‘safe’

Kevin Knodell — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Navy released Wednesday a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that was the result of an inspection of its water system that serves more than 93,000 people on Oahu.

BWS’ $1.2B Red Hill claim still under review

Ian Bauer — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

It’s been nearly a year since the Honolulu Board of Water Supply filed a $1.2 billion claim against the Navy to recover costs for its response to massive jet fuel leaks at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2021.

Editorial: Navy must conduct weekly water tests

None — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Nearly 105 million gallons of military fuel stored 100 feet above a key aquifer have now been removed from Red Hill — good — but unfortunately, threat of serious contamination from residual toxins lingers. Public pressure must ramp up to have the Navy start weekly monitoring for chemicals in area water wells, using an independent third party, as well as for official monitoring agencies to likewise adopt a sense of urgency for timely data.

Council OKs resolution for more water testing

Ian Bauer — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Honolulu City Council adopted a resolution Wednesday urging the Navy and Department of Defense to immediately implement weekly testing of monitoring wells related to past fuel spills at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Council calls for more Red Hill water testing

Ian Bauer — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Due to the massive 2021 fuel spills linked to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, which sickened families, fears over further contamination of Oahu’s groundwater supply have prompted the Honolulu City Council to take greater action on the matter.

Board of Water Supply detects chemical plume in Aiea wells

Kevin Knodell — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Testing by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply earlier this summer indicated that a plume of contaminants often associated with petroleum fuel recently passed through a pair of drinking wells in Aiea near the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel storage facility.

Red Hill community group is told it won’t be disbanded

Victoria Budiono — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Red Hill Community Representation Initiative received an email Friday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirming that the organization will not be disbanded, despite being notified in June about its potential dissolution in response to Navy complaints.

EPA moves to disband Red Hill advisory board

Kevin Knodell — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 10:06:00 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency is making moves to disband the elected community advisory board it established as part of a federal consent decree regarding the closure of the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel storage facility. As it does, it’s facing pushback by the board as well as from Hawaii’s congressional delegation.

Navy’s Red Hill tank ventilation rattles some residents

Kevin Knodell — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Navy has begun tank ventilation and air quality monitoring at the Red Hill fuel storage facility.

Hawaii Department of Health probe in February didn’t detect petroleum in water

Kevin Knodell — Fri, 24 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A recent investigation by the state Department of Health into the Navy’s Oahu drinking water system found no petroleum or jet fuel compounds in drinking water samples collected in February but did not rule out the possibility of residual fuel in the system after fuel from the Navy’s Red Hill storage facility contaminated it in November 2021.

Closing arguments made in Red Hill lawsuit trial

Kevin Knodell — Tue, 14 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A lawsuit trial brought by families affected by the Red Hill water crisis against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act saw both sides make their closing arguments Monday.

Officer who oversaw Red Hill defueling to command Navy’s Third Fleet

Kevin Knodell — Mon, 13 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Vice Adm. John Wade, former commander of the joint task force that oversaw removal of most of the fuel in the Navy’s Red Hill facility, has been officially nominated to take over the Navy’s 3rd Fleet in San Diego.

Editorial: Red Hill trial must set firm precedent

None — Thu, 09 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Two-and-a-half years after the disastrous Red Hill fuel spill that contaminated the area’s water, people who were sickened then — and claim ongoing health problems even now — are in the midst of a landmark lawsuit trying to make the Navy pay. Literally, and dearly. Their stories of trauma and injury are compelling, especially given the military’s now-revealed patterns of obscurification, alarming fuel-facility negligence and lack of urgency.

Federal witnesses defend Navy’s Red Hill response

Kevin Knodell — Thu, 09 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Government witnesses are taking the stand this week to defend the Navy’s response to the Red Hill water crisis and sow doubts about the severity of the contamination as a federal mass tort lawsuit on behalf of affected families continues.

Red Hill fuel spread through water quickly, expert testifies

Kevin Knodell — Wed, 01 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Water system experts testified Tuesday on the second day of a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. government that tests may have missed contamination in the critical early days of the Red Hill fuel crisis.

Federal attorneys defend government’s Red Hill response as first lawsuit opens

Kevin Knodell — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:06:00 +0000

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys opened the first day of a class-action lawsuit by defending the government’s response to the Red Hill water crisis while acknowledging some Navy liability in contaminating the water supply for tens of thousands of residents.

Navy data on Red Hill deflects serious health issues

Kevin Knodell — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Navy on Friday released several documents regarding its data on the health impact of the November 2021 Red Hill fuel spills, just before a federal trial begins Monday in a lawsuit brought by affected families against the federal government alleging the spill has caused long-term health damage.

Petroleum results in Red Hill water came from lab tests, Navy finds

Kacie Yamamoto — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Laboratory contamination was the cause of increased low levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons detected in the Navy’s drinking water system since last summer, the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill announced Wednesday. The TPH detections were not associated with jet fuel contamination in the underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the Navy said.

Red Hill community panel says Navy leaving questions unanswered

Kevin Knodell — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Members of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative are expressing frustration with federal officials who declined to attend a scheduled meeting for a second time.

Report finds U.S. military facilities at ‘increased risk’ of fuel spills

Kevin Knodell — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:06:00 +0000

An investigation by the Pentagon’s Inspector General released this month found that military officials have failed to provide proper oversight of fuel facilities and that they are now “at an increased risk of fuel leaks and spills, which could endanger public health, harm natural resources, and lead to mission failure.”

Navy removes toxic firefighting foam from Red Hill facility

Kacie Yamamoto — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Navy as of Monday had removed just over 1,000 gallons of aqueous film forming foam concentrate — a toxic fire suppressant containing “forever chemicals” — from its AFFF system at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Editorial: Hold Red Hill task force accountable

None — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Now would be a good time to stake out, for the public, the motto and mission of the new Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill. NCTF-RH has just taken over responsibility for the military’s troubled underground tank facility from the earlier defueling task force; it is charged with permanent shutdown of the massive facility, and with long-term environmental remediation in coordination with state and federal stakeholders in order to protect public health and the environment.

Water is safe at Hickam Elementary School, officials say

Kevin Knodell — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

State and federal officials say that water tested at Hickam Elementary School for potential petroleum contamination is safe after an “unvalidated” test found high levels early this month.

Red Hill defueling task force ends mission

Kevin Knodell — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Two years after the Pentagon agreed it would remove fuel from its underground Red Hill fuel storage facility and shut it down, the military task force charged with removing fuel stored in the Navy’s underground Red Hill facility has officially concluded its mission.

EPA’s integrity is questioned for withholding Red Hill tests

Kevin Knodell — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In early March the Navy notified the Environmental Protection Agency that it had detected “unvalidated test results” finding high levels of total petroleum |hydrocarbons, or TPH, in water samples taken from an on-base school and a home in the Aliamanu Military Reservation — both of which had their water systems flushed.

EPA calls for mediator at Red Hill community meetings

Kevin Knodell — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency is asking members of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative to enter into mediation with the Navy as the military continues the shutdown process for its underground fuel storage facility.

Column: Tough battle with military over long-term health problems

None — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Red Hill is shutting down, but the tragic reality of its long-term effects continues impacting many families sickened during the 2021 fuel leaks.

Column: Bill would give state Water Commission autonomy to protect water

None — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Access to abundant, clean water is a fundamental human right that should not be a political bargaining chip. This basic principle requires that decisions about how water is managed and distributed be outside the reach of politics and politicians.

Red Hill board accuses Navy of backing off transparency vow

Kevin Knodell — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

As the military tries to highlight progress on efforts to close the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel facility, members of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative are accusing the federal government of walking back on its commitments to transparency ahead of a public meeting scheduled for Thursday.