Inspections and Enforcement
Background
As a result of the November 2021 fuel release, 2022 Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) release, and subsequent drinking water complaints, EPA has conducted several inspections and investigations to assess compliance at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) Drinking Water System.
Based on the agency’s findings, EPA entered into an Administrative Consent Order in 2023 with the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
Inspections and Investigations
Defueling Completion Inspections
During the week of March 5, 2024, EPA conducted an inspection and evaluation of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility to confirm that the overwhelming majority of fuel had been removed from the facility consistent with assertions made by Joint Task Force-Red Hill and assess operations and environmental compliance at the facility at the time of transition to Navy Closure Task Force.
EPA sent a letter determination on March 21, 2024, to Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) that they had met all eleven exit criteria listed in Defueling Plan Supplement 3. The final Defueling Inspection Report is available below.
In the time between this inspection and the generation of the inspection report, authority over the RHBFSF has been transferred from Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) to Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill (NCTF-RH).
- Final Report: Interim Defueling Completion Inspection (pdf)
- EPA Letter to Joint Task Force-Red Hill: Exit Criteria Complete (pdf)
- EPA Letter to Joint Task Force-Red Hill: Interim Defueling Inspection Preliminary RFI (pdf)
Spill Prevention and Underground Storage Inspections
EPA conducted Compliance Evaluation Inspections (CEIs) at the JBPHH from February 28 – March 4, 2022. The purpose of the inspections was to evaluate the United States Department of the Navy’s (the Navy’s) compliance with the Oil Pollution Prevention (OPP) Regulations, including Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements under Section 311 of the Clean Water Act, and Hawaii’s approved Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations pursuant to Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Review the findings of these reports at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Compliance Evaluation Inspections.
Drinking Water System Compliance
EPA has conducted several inspections of the Navy’s JBPHH and the U.S. Army’s Aliamanu Military Reservation (AMR) drinking water system as well as multiple complaint investigations from resident complaints. Review these inspections and investigations at Drinking Water System Compliance at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
AFFF Release Investigation
On November 29, 2022, the EPA was notified of a hazardous material release incident involving the release of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrate within the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and in the surrounding environment. EPA conducted an investigation of the release, available here at Fire Suppressant (“AFFF”) Spill.
Enforcement Actions
2023 Administrative Consent Order
On June 2, 2023, EPA finalized and signed the 2023 Administrative Consent Order (Consent Order) with the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) that requires steps to ensure the safe defueling and closure of the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility (Facility) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Under the Consent Order, the Navy has committed to properly operate and maintain the JBPHH drinking water system to protect the health and safety of its consumers.
2015 Administrative Order on Consent
In response to the January 2014 fuel release from the facility, EPA and Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) negotiated an enforceable agreement, also known as the 2015 Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The Order required the Navy and DLA to take actions, subject to DOH and EPA approval, to address fuel releases and implement infrastructure improvements to protect human health and the environment.