U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro pressing for details on the Navy’s response to fuel leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, according to a release. 

What You Need To Know

  • Hirono sent a letter to the Navy pressing for updates about how it's making changes after Red Hill fuel leaks

  • In the letter, Hirono requested updates on a series of recommendations made a year ago in Admiral Samuel Papero’s report

  • She described the recommendations as short-term recommendations and long-term recommendations

  • “I am writing for a brief on how both types of these recommendations have been implemented,” said Hirono

On Oahu, more than 93,000 residents were affected by the Red Hill fuel leaks in May and Nov. 2021. Last year in November, the Navy spilled aqueous film forming foam at Red Hill, which contains PFAS. 

“The Navy’s ongoing response to these releases continues to raise serious concerns about its ability to take the proper corrective action in a transparent manner,” said Hirono in the letter. 

In the letter, Hirono requested updates on a series of recommendations made a year ago in Admiral Samuel Papero’s report on the fuel releases at Red Hill, writing, “It is critically important that the Navy has incorporated lessons learned into its standard operating procedures.”

She described the recommendations as short-term recommendations, like assessing risk and creating emergency response procedures, and long-term recommendations, such as those that address culture and leadership issues.

“I am writing for a brief on how both types of these recommendations have been implemented, the status of any incomplete tasks, and the plan for confronting long-term challenges,” said Hirono.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hirono has been working to ensure the closure and defueling of Red Hill. 

Along with the other three members of the Hawaii delegation, Hirono called for an independent investigation initiated by Congress into how the Department of Defense and Navy responded to the spill of AFFF at Red Hill on Nov. 29, 2022.

On Friday, the Hawaii Department of Health said it received test results related to the AFFF spill, which showed PFAS in the soil excavated from the site of the spill.

In November 2022, Hirono sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding to know how the Department of Defense is supporting families affected by the Red Hill fuel leaks.

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