The milestone event of repacking operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Halawa, tasked with removing 104 million gallons of aviation and marine fuels, will commence on Monday. Joint Task Force-Red Hill, comprised of various U.S. armed services members, aims to replenish empty pipelines with more fuel to eliminate any air. This process will facilitate the gravity-based defueling of the main underground storage tanks, set to begin on October 16, according to Vice Adm. John Wade, who leads the task force. Wade emphasized that the gravity method is not entirely reliant on electricity. He assured that the defueling process, scheduled for completion by January 19, will be carried out with the utmost caution.
To mitigate risks, the joint task force plans to fill the lines with fuel from the upper tank farm and gradually introduce the fuel in small increments, ensuring that all valves and flanges are operating at standard levels. Wade highlighted the importance of emptying the residual fuel, approximately 100,000 to 400,000 gallons, after the gravity defueling process, and stressed the need to collaborate with the Navy to ensure every last drop is removed.
During the media tour of the Red Hill facility, the task force mentioned the previous incident on May 6, 2021, when a pipeline containing JP-5 jet fuel failed due to operator error, resulting in a fuel spill of 19,000 gallons. However, the tour did not include another fuel leak incident that occurred on November 20, 2021, which led to the leakage of approximately 14,000 gallons of petroleum into the drinking water supply for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and other military sites on West Oahu, affecting numerous families.
Following these incidents, Brig. Gen. Michelle Link, the task force’s deputy commander, explained that independent engineering assessments were necessary to ensure the facility’s safety before defueling could proceed. Link stated that 253 mandatory repairs were completed based on the assessments and received necessary approvals from third-party validators, such as the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These repairs included surge mitigation measures and pipeline integrity repairs, such as replacing corroded pipes, supports, and valves.
Additionally, since the fuel spills in 2021, the Navy has been collecting environmental data and installing groundwater monitoring wells to comply with state law requirements, as defined by the EPA. Currently, there are 23 Navy-installed monitoring wells at or near the Red Hill facility. The Navy has also submitted a work plan to install up to 10 additional monitoring wells, and other entities, like the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, have also installed monitoring wells in the area.
To prevent future fuel leaks, especially into potable water sources, the facility has implemented enhanced measures and controls, including containment barriers and improved aquifer protection. More cameras have been installed to replace outdated equipment and provide better surveillance for the facility, assisting in 24/7 monitoring of the pipeline. Wade emphasized the importance of community understanding and the presence of on-site EPA and state Department of Health representatives.
The Joint Task Force-Red Hill, consisting of personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and civilian employees, will continue its mission until defueling operations are completed. Wade reaffirmed their commitment to progress, risk reduction, and ensuring readiness for the defueling process.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
