EPA Administrator Zeldin Meets with Local Leaders, Surveys Maui Wildfire Recovery Efforts, and Visits Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility
WASHINGTON – On Friday, March 21, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to Maui, Hawaii, to meet with community leaders, local officials, and EPA staff to survey recovery efforts following the 2023 Maui wildfires. The wildfires affected approximately 1,550 parcels and 2,200 structures. 102 people lost their lives. EPA personnel worked with federal, state, and local government partners on response and recovery efforts. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tasked EPA with removing hazardous material, providing water infrastructure technical assistance, and delivering sustainability assistance during the recovery process.
“The wildfires in Maui brought deep devastation and disruption to everyone in this community. However, the Kupuna and County officials persevered together to begin rebuilding the lives of residents while respecting the cultural practices that are deeply interwoven in the rich history and identity of this area. There is more to be done, but the community is heading in the right direction. I am proud of all the support EPA has given and will ensure swift and efficient response efforts to future disasters,” said Administrator Zeldin.
"The costs of Maui recovery have been reduced because of local engagement with the Native Hawaiian Kupuna and the County of Maui. Integrating a local workforce and respecting local cultures, customs, and values avoided millions of dollars of needless administrative delays. Administrator Zeldin has been clear that the EPA needs to be better, faster, and less expensive as we respond to disasters, and Maui is a case study of just that. There is still much to do, but Maui will come back stronger after this tragedy," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Josh F.W. Cook.
Zeldin began his day by meeting with local Kupuna and community members in Lahaina who were essential to helping local and federal partners understand the cultural and native practices of Hawaii.
Local officials then took Administrator Zeldin on a tour on Front Street to view the effects of the destructive fires.
Zeldin then walked streets where homes were rebuilding and the Wahikuli Houselots Subdivision where residents are still in temporary housing. There is an EPA-funded project to provide sewer service for residents here as well.
He concluded by visiting the Central Maui Landfill Permanent Disposal Site which will intake all the debris from the Temporary Disposal Site from the wildfires. Staging areas are essential to the hazardous material removal process and enable residents to rebuild their homes faster. Once the staging areas are no longer needed for cleanup, EPA will sample the soil in staging areas to ensure no negative impact to the property and provide the owner with a summary report.
On Saturday, March 22, 2025, Administrator Zeldin toured the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Currently run by the U.S. Navy, this facility is designed to store up to 250 million gallons of fuel in 20 steel-lined tanks. In November 2021, a fuel leak caused contamination to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman (JBPHH) and the Army’s Aliamanu Military Reservation water supply. In May 2021, another fuel incident occurred where a pressure surge caused a pipeline joint failure releasing fuel beneath the underground storage tanks, pushing the fuel toward the Red Hill drinking system. The Hawaii Department of Health issued emergency orders that ultimately required the defueling and permanent closure of Red Hill. In June of 2023, EPA executed an Administrative Consent Order under the imminent and substantial endangerment provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act with the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency to oversee the defueling and closure of Red Hill and implement improvements to the JBPHH drinking water system.
After his visit to Red Hill, Administrator Zeldin met with the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) Director, Deputy Director, and Environmental Management Division Administrator to discuss ways that EPA and Hawaii DOH can continue to work together to ensure safe and clean land, air, and water for residents.
