The Navy has issued written reprimands to three retired military officers for their involvement in the fuel spill at Pearl Harbor’s drinking water facility in 2021. The spill from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility resulted in the poisoning of thousands of military families and continues to pose a threat to the purity of Honolulu’s water supply. However, no one has been fired, suspended, had their pay docked, or rank reduced as a result of the incident.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has sent censure letters to the three rear admirals and revoked personal military decorations awarded to several other officers involved. The Navy views taking accountability as a step towards restoring trust with the community and pledges to identify and address the issue.
The investigation into the spill found that operator error caused a pipe to rupture during a fuel transfer, leading to a release of 21,000 gallons of fuel. Most of the liquid flowed into a fire suppression line and sat there for six months, causing it to sag. A subsequent incident caused 20,000 gallons of fuel to enter a French drain and the drinking water well, resulting in around 6,000 people experiencing symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and rashes.
The spill has raised concerns among various groups in Hawaii, including veterans, environmentalists, Native Hawaiians, and both liberals and conservatives. Wayne Tanaka, the director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, described the reprimands as “outrageous” considering the damage done and the ongoing threat to the aquifer beneath the tanks.
After initially resisting, the military has agreed to drain the tanks and has spent the past year repairing equipment to do so safely. The process is set to begin next month and aims to be completed by January 19th.
U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono believes that true accountability for the disaster requires the Navy to address systemic command and control failures and a lack of attention to infrastructure. She feels that the Navy leadership has not shown sufficient evidence of treating these issues with the seriousness and urgency they deserve, and she will continue to push for systemic changes.
