HALEAKALA, Hawaii — The U.S. Air Force reported Tuesday that 700 gallons of diesel fuel were spilled at a facility on the summit of Haleakalā on Maui.

What You Need To Know

  • A fuel spill occurred at the U.S. Space Force's Maui Space Surveillance Complex at the summit of Haleakalā

  • A diesel fuel pump failed to shut off on Sunday night, and it was discovered Monday at 8 a.m.

  • By the time the pump was shut off, about 700 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled

  • The Air Force said the cause of the failure is currently under review

The fuel spill occurred Sunday at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex, a satellite tracking and research facility run by the U.S. Space Force, because of “a mechanical issue.”

“A diesel fuel pump for an on-site backup generator failed to shut off,” the Air Force’s news release said. 

The pump failed to shut off on Sunday night, and maintenance workers, who “immediately deactivated the transfer pump,” discovered it on Monday at 8 a.m.

By the time the pump was shut off, about 700 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled. 

The Air Force said the cause of the failure is currently under review.

“Fuel spill experts from the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center will assess the site to begin remediation efforts,” the release said. 

The U.S. Air Force informed the Hawaii Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency about the spill on Monday at 3 p.m., a spokesperson for the Pacific Air Forces told Spectrum News Hawaii. 

The EPA said in a statement that the agency is in communication with the Hawaii DOH about the incident. According to the EPA, the DOH has used its State Emergency Response Program authority to lead efforts to work with the Space Force on the cleanup. 

"EPA staff will be joining DOH on-site early next Tuesday to observe the state’s assessment and inspect the site to see if federal Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations under the Clean Water Act potentially apply," the EPA said. 

Haleakala rises 10,000 feet and is the site of seven astronomical facilities. The area is owned and managed by the University of Hawaii, which leases land to the government for the Maui Space Surveillance Complex. 

The mountain is home to a number of plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world and a sacred site for Native Hawaiians. In 2015, Hawaiian activists protested against the construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope.

The fuel spill at Haleakala comes after the U.S. Navy has been under scrutiny following fuel spills in May and November 2021 at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu, which seeped into the aquifer and poisoned the drinking water for 93,000 people who use the Navy’s water system in the Pearl Harbor area. 

Senator Lynn DeCoite, who represents parts of Maui, issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the spill is “completely unacceptable and very concerning for those who live and work near the summit.”

“Haleakalā plays a crucial role in the ecosystem of Maui Island, and any contamination of our water sources and natural resources could have devastating effects,” DeCoite said.

She continued by saying she would monitor the situation and would reach out to the Department of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the EPA. (Feb. 1, 2023)