Navy Submits Plan To Close Hawaii Fuel Storage Facility

The U.S. Navy has submitted a formal plan to close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii, the service reports.

The plan, delivered to the Hawaii Dept. of Health, will permanently close all 20 underground fuel storage tanks, four surge tanks and the associated piping system at the facility.

The proposal calls for leaving the tanks in place, minimizing environmental and public health effects and safety concerns, the Navy said in a release on Tuesday.

The storage facility attached to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham has been in use since 1943.

The Dept. of Defense announced plans to close the facility in March, citing reduced necessity and environmental and well-being concerns.

There was 27,000-gallon (102,200-liter) jet fuel spill at Red Hill in 2014. A subsequent leak in 2021 contaminated drinking water for military families and local residents.

It will take around three years to defuel, clean up and formally close the facility, the service said.