Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility in Hawaii will be defueled as soon possible, Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Monday. He cited modern fueling requirements that have made the facility obsolete.
The facility, built in Oahu in 1943 and made up 20 steel-lined underground fuel tanks that can hold up 250 million gallons. According to the Associated Press, the tank was constructed directly above the aquifer which supplies 20% of Honolulu’s drinking water.
Austin reports that the Secretary of Navy and Director at the Defense Logistics Agency will present a 12-month plan for defueling the facility by May 31. This will include “environmental remediation,” which will clean up the water in which the fuel leaked.
Austin said Monday that he would continue to work with the Hawaii Department of Health and national and local elected officials as well as other community leaders to clean up the Red Hill water source. We will also develop an environmental mitigation plan for any future contamination concerns. This applies to our employees and their families.
After months of struggle between Hawaii residents, U.S Navy officials, the news is finally out. The Navy issued a statement saying that the water is safe to drink after homeowners complained about the smell of petroleum-like water. After residents complained of persistent illness and strange-smelling water, the Navy released a statement saying that it was safe to drink.
According to the Pentagon, over 3,000 military families were forced from their phones by the contamination. It also affected households not affiliated with the military. Residents who were affected by the spillage have spoken out about the psychological and emotional trauma they suffered from not being treated seriously by officials.
Frances Paulino, mother of two said that water is now contaminated in every way. It just makes us feel unsafe and unable to trust our home. It’s gone. We have lost the sense of security and serenity you felt when you walked through the front door.
U.S. Navy officials maintain that water has been safe since December 16, but an investigation into the cause of the leak is ongoing.
Austin stated Monday that “your health has been affected, your livelihoods and lives have been disrupted and, in many cases, your homes have been made unavailable to you.” We owe you the best possible health care, answers to all your questions and safe, clean drinking water. We owe you a return of normal. You have my full support to this end.”
