Remember Red Hill? There's a Bill! (Action Needed by Tuesday 1/28/2025)

What's the short version of this issue?

There is a bill in the Hawai'i State Legislature (HB505) that will be voted on tomorrow (1/28/2025) that addresses the ongoing contamination issues at the Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii.

What this bill will do:

• Formalize the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) group, which is comprised of folks from both state and local government and who have already been working on the problem.  

• Assigns authority to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to serve as the lead agency.

• Establishes a new "WAI Policy Coordinator" position that will serve as the primary point of contact and oversee this initiative.

• Creates a designated fund to pay for monitoring, research, and public education related to the Red Hill cleanup. The expectation is that the Federal government and US Navy (not Hawai'i) is ultimately responsible for paying for the cleanup given that the US Navy and Federal agencies were aware of--and had committed to pay for--the Red Hill facility leaks as far back as 2015.

• Requires cooperation, communication, and sharing of information across the state, local agencies, and the WAI coordinator.

• Requires annual, public progress reports to be produced and made available to both the legislature and the public.

Overall, this goal of this bill is to hold the US Navy accountable for the Red Hill contamination, ensure the cleanup is done properly, and keep the public informed.

Why do I care about this, and why should you?

In 2021, thousands of O'ahu residents were poisoned through exposure to water contaminated by an entirely preventable fuel leak at a US Navy-owned storage facility called Red Hill (site). Although Hawai'i's Department of Health ordered the US Navy to shut down and safely remove the fuel stored at the Red Hill facility soon after this incident, as of today, there are still 100 million gallons of fuel in the facility thanks in large part to intense push back by the US Navy in refusing to take accountability for this preventable crisis. If the fuel leakage continues to go unaddressed, it could result in the contamination of a natural aquifer which will, in turn, create a full-blown water supply crisis for half a million O'ahu residents. I have family and friends on O'ahu, and I do not accept this.

More information about the Red Hill crisis and HB505 can be found here:

• Sierra Club of Hawai'i's Shut Down Red Hill webpage: https://sierraclubhawaii.org/redhill-1

• Honolulu Civil Beat article: https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/04/families-testify-in-red-hill-trial-how-fuel-made-them-sick-as-feds-express-doubt/

• Honolulu Civil Beat article: https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/11/report-navy-mismanagement-led-to-red-hill-water-contamination-disaster/

• 60-minutes episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DUJX58JwSA&t=51s

• KHON2 News report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkNY6hM0zhE

• Ka Lahui Hawai'i Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFTaMvITqBJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

• O'ahu Water Protectors Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFVrCmTywiA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

What actions can be taken?

You (yes, YOU! even if you're not Native Hawaiian or even live in Hawai'i!) can submit testimony through the Hawaii State Legislature website. You have to create an account (it took me less than 2 minutes), and then (once logged in) you can search for/submit testimony for specific bills. Here’s a helpful video about how to do that.

Template for testimony

Hello, My name is <Insert Your Name> and I live in <Insert Your City, State>. I am writing to express my strong support for HB505, a critical piece of legislation that seeks to address the ongoing contamination issues at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. This bill represents an essential step forward in safeguarding the health and safety of O’ahu residents, protecting Hawai’i’s natural resources, and holding the US Navy accountable for its role in this preventable crisis.

As you know, the 2021 Red Hill fuel leak exposed thousands of O’ahu residents to contaminated water and placed the island’s water supply at grave risk. While the Hawai’i Department of Health ordered the US Navy to decommission and safely remove the fuel stored at Red Hill, the lack of timely action and ongoing resistance from the Navy have left 100 million gallons of fuel in the facility—fuel that continues to threaten the island’s natural aquifer and the water supply for half a million residents. The consequences of further inaction are unthinkable.

HB505 is a comprehensive and thoughtful solution that will:

• Formalize the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) group, bringing together state and local government stakeholders who have already been working on this issue.

• Assign authority to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to serve as the lead agency, ensuring clear oversight and accountability.

• Establish a new "WAI Policy Coordinator" position to serve as the primary point of contact and oversee the initiative.

• Create a designated fund for monitoring, research, and public education related to the Red Hill cleanup, while reaffirming that the federal government and US Navy are ultimately responsible for funding the cleanup.

• Mandate cooperation, communication, and transparency among state and local agencies, as well as the WAI coordinator.

• Require annual public progress reports to keep the legislature and residents informed about the cleanup.

This bill is not only about addressing the immediate crisis but also about ensuring long-term accountability, transparency, and collaboration. By formalizing the efforts of the WAI group and establishing clear leadership and funding mechanisms, HB505 provides a robust framework to protect Hawai’i’s water resources and the health of its people.

As someone with deep ties to O’ahu, I am profoundly concerned about the potential for a full-blown water supply crisis if the Red Hill contamination is not addressed promptly and effectively. Families, businesses, and entire communities depend on the state’s ability to act decisively in the face of this environmental and public health emergency. HB505 is an essential step in the right direction, and I urge you to vote yes on HB505.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue and for your continued service to the people of Hawai’i.

Thank you for your time and consideration, <Insert Your Name>

#WriteALetter