STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4062

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 6

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 6, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO PREPARE A PLAN TO DECOMMISSION THE RED HILL BULK FUEL STORAGE FACILITY, STORE ITS FUEL AWAY FROM THE SOUTHERN OAHU BASAL AQUIFER IN A MANNER COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, PREPARE A PLAN TO ESTABLISH A NEW WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, PAY FOR ALL COSTS TO THE STATE, AND COMPLY WITH ALL FUTURE REMEDIATION EFFORTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the United States Department of Defense, Navy, to prepare a plan to:

(1) Decommission the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and store its fuel away from the Southern Oahu Basal Aquifer in a manner that is compliant with federal and state law;

(2) Establish a new water treatment facility adjacent to Red Hill;

(3) Pay for all costs to the State; and

(4) Comply with all future remediation efforts to Oahu's environment and water supply.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management, City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the United States Navy is the owner and operator of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, a World War II era underground storage tank system on Oahu. The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility consists of twenty underground storage tanks, pipelines, and other infrastructure and is used to store marine diesel and two types of jet fuel. It also sits approximately one hundred feet directly above the Southern Oahu Basal Aquifer.

Your Committees further find that in November 2021, there was a release of approximately fourteen thousand gallons of a mixture of water and fuel from a crack in a fire suppression drain line at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. As a result, JP-5, or jet fuel, seeped into the Red Hill Shaft, one of the drinking water sources for the Navy's water system. As a result, nearby residents reported that their families and pets experienced health issues after consuming the water, including rashes, mouth sores, stomach aches, vomiting, burning eyes, sore throats, headaches, and nausea. Furthermore, over three thousand residents were required to move out of their homes, several businesses shut down or limited their operations, and several Hawaii public schools and child development centers were forced to close off sinks and water fountains and use only bottled water for handwashing, dishwashing, and drinking purposes.

On March 7, 2022, the United States Secretary of the Defense ordered the closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; began the process of determining how to remove the remaining fuel from the facility; and directed the Secretary of the Navy and Director of the Defense Logistics Agency to provide a plan, no later than May 31, 2022, with milestones to defuel the facility with a target to complete the defueling within twelve months. This measure seeks to ensure the protection of Oahu's environment and water supply from further pollution crises.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 6, H.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair