Hawaii Senate Bill SR137

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting The Secretary Of Defense And United States Navy To Promptly Defuel And Permanently Decommission The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility And To Provide Compensation For Financial Harm Caused By The Red Hill Fuel Leaks.

Impact

If enacted, SR137 would mandate swift actions to mitigate ongoing risks associated with the Red Hill facility. This involves not only immediate defueling and decommissioning of the site but also the reimbursement of costs incurred by the State of Hawaii and associated agencies for monitoring and remediation activities in response to contamination. Additionally, it allocates responsibility for compensating schools affected by the water crisis, emphasizing the bill’s focus on public health and environmental remediation in the face of military operations.

Summary

Senate Resolution 137 (SR137) requests the Secretary of Defense and the United States Navy to take immediate action to defuel and permanently decommission the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii. The resolution articulates significant concern over the historical environmental damage caused by the facility, which has experienced multiple fuel leaks over the decades, contaminating both the land and the water supply. The situation escalated in late 2021 when a substantial fuel leak affected drinking water supplies serving military homes and schools on Oahu, leading to health issues among affected residents and operational challenges for educational institutions.

Contention

The resolution underscores existing tensions between military operations and local environmental concerns, highlighting the authority of the Secretary of Defense to dictate defueling schedules which may not align with public safety needs. The bill reflects broader community frustrations regarding the lack of accountability and responsiveness from military leadership to environmental hazards impacting civilian populations. There is a critical need balancing military preparedness with environmental and public health considerations, which serves as a point of contention among legislators and constituents alike.