Closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility
Decision to Permanently Shut Down the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility
On March 7, 2022, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, directed the Department of Defense to defuel and permanently shut down the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
State of Hawai'i Emergency Order
Following the November 2021 contamination of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam’s drinking water system, the Hawai'i State Department of Health (DOH) issued an emergency order to the U.S. Navy that required the Navy to cease all operations at the facility and defuel the 18 operational underground fuel storage tanks. The Hawai'i State Emergency Order was issued on December 6, 2021, and then was reissued on May 6, 2022.
- December 6, 2021, Hawai'i DOH Emergency Order (pdf) and Press Release
- May 6, 2022, Hawai'i DOH Emergency Order (pdf) and Press Release
To accomplish these goals, the Navy was ordered to submit both a Defueling Plan and a Closure Plan.