The Navy Thursday assumed full oversight of permanently closing the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii, Stars and Stripes reported. It was the site of a jet fuel leak that contaminated drinking water in late 2021.
Joint Task Force-Red Hill was responsible for draining more than 104 million gallons of fuel from the facility.
“As you know, for more than 80 years, the facility has kept our ships sailing and kept our aircraft flying,” Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, who commands the Navy task force as well as Navy Region Hawaii, said at a Thursday ceremony. “It’s enabled the United States of America to safeguard our nation and its most important assets: our people. But right now, today, it’s time for us to move to the next phase. To do this, Navy Closure Task Force will safely, expeditiously decommission this facility.”
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jared Mancuso
