Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility: The Current Crisis, the Response, and the Way Forward
House Armed Services Committee – Readiness Subcommittee
January 11th, 2022 at 10:00AM EST
Witnesses in attendance included::
- Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey
Commander, Navy Installations Command - Rear Admiral Blake Converse
Deputy Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet - Rear Admiral John K. Korka
Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
Chief of Civil Engineers - Rear Admiral Peter Stamatopoulos
Supply Corps, United States Navy
Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and 49th Chief of Supply Corps - Captain Michael McGinnis
Pacific Fleet Surgeon
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing in which they discussed the recent fuel spill at the Red Hill Fuel Storage facility in Hawaii. The fuel spill impacted the drinking water of hundreds of military families and has raised concerns over the fuel storage facility among opposition groups and wary constituents.
“The Navy has broken trust with the people of Hawaii”, said Congressman Garamendi. He explained his desire to fund either a new solution to the issue of fuel security at the facility, or perhaps to even seek a new location for fuel storage.
Ranking Member Waltz made clear that while he was concerned about the fuel leak, any effort to entirely defuel Red Hill would have significant national security consequences.
All Members of Congress presiding over the hearing seemed to agree that the Navy must be held accountable for this incident, with some specifically mentioning the Commander of the Pacific Fleet as bearing most of the responsibility.
RADM Converse, one of the witnesses at the hearing, made clear that the cause of the spill was simple operator error. He also made clear that the Navy had complied with a lawful order from the Hawaii Attorney General to empty the fuel storage tanks and conduct cleaning. Additionally, he stated that the defueling, cleaning, and refueling of the facility would have no major impacts on national security or military concerns over the coming months.
For a recording of the full committee hearing, please visit the House Armed Services Committee hearings calendar.