Fire Suppressant (“AFFF”) Spill

• About the Incident
• Response Activities
• Documents
• More Information

About the Incident

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. AFFF is a material that is used in the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility’s fire suppression system. An estimated 1,300 gallons of AFFF was unintentionally released during a routine maintenance operation.

The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility’s fire suppression system uses the AFFF product in the event of a fire to create a foam blanket to extinguish a fuel fire. AFFF contains Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances known as PFAS. PFAS are a group of compounds that can cause negative health and environmental effects above certain exposure levels. For more information about PFAS, see Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

Response Activities

The Navy immediately initiated clean up operations by using absorbent pads and excavating contaminated soil and concrete from the area. As the spill occurred about one mile away from the closed Red Hill drinking water well, the Navy asserts that the release has not impacted drinking water. An investigation into the AFFF release will be conducted by JTH-RH investigating officer.

EPA assisted the Hawai'i State Department of Health and the Navy during the response to the release of AFFF. EPA advised on soil and groundwater sampling and analysis for PFAS and oversaw the development of the Navy’s Sampling and Analysis Plan, which was approved by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Health (DOH) on December 1, 2022. The plan requires PFAS sampling at nine groundwater monitoring wells in the immediate area.

EPA is committed to its oversight role for this incident and will continue to actively engage DoD and Hawai'i DOH on spill response and investigation.

Documents

• EPA and Hawai'i DOH Letter: Request for Additional PFAS Sampling (pdf) (333.79 KB, March 1, 2024)
  Letter from EPA and DOH requesting to continue routine monitoring for PFAS in groundwater while the Navy develops the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility PFAS Remedial Investigation (RI).
• Red Hill Aqueous Film Forming (AFF) Foam Investigation Report (pdf) (16.41 MB, October 4, 2023)
  Results of investigation into an Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) spill that occurred at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on November 29, 2022 (REDACTED).
• EPA Response to Navy's Request for Extension of Time to Provide AFFF Foam Information (pdf) (250.15 KB, February 14, 2023)
  EPA Letter to JBPHH Commander re: Request for Extension of Time to Provide Information Pursuant to Request for Information under Section 3007(a) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for the Releases of Aqueous Film Forming Foam at Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
• Information Request to U.S. Navy Region Hawai'i for Releases of Fire Suppressant (“AFFF”) at Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (pdf) (319.38 KB, January 6, 2023)
  Request for Information Pursuant to Section 3007(a) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for the Releases of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (“AFFF”) at Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility sent to U.S. Navy Region Hawai'i.

More Information

• To view the Navy’s Press Releases on the AFFF release and response efforts, please visit the Navy’s Red Hill News Releases and Media Coverage page.
• For DOH News Releases regarding the AFFF release, please visit DOH’s New Release page. Additional information will be posted to this page as it becomes available.
• More information is available at Defense Visual Information Distribution Service: Joint Task Force-Red Hill.