EPA, State of Hawaii negotiate final settlement with U.S. Navy to upgrade Red Hill storage tanks

Released Jointly by US EPA and Hawaii State Department of Health

For Immediate Release: October 1, 2015

EPA, State of Hawaii negotiate final settlement with U.S. Navy to upgrade Red Hill storage tanks

After extensive public comment, Navy agrees to additional protective measures

HONOLULU – Following a 50 day public comment period, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) announced the final agreement with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) that requires the military to take immediate and long-term steps to minimize the threat of future leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility near Pearl Harbor, Oahu. In response to over 140 public comments, EPA and DOH secured additional measures from the Navy and DLA that improved upon the original proposed settlement.

“EPA listened to the public, and the result is a strengthened agreement,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Now the work can start, and we look forward to collaborating with DOH and local stakeholders on this long-term effort to protect public health and Hawaii’s precious aquifers.”