Navy Reprimanded for Fuel Spill at Pearl Harbor Base Causing Illness in 6,000 People

The Navy has issued written reprimands to three retired military officers for their roles in the jet fuel spill at Pearl Harbor’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2021. However, no one has been fired, suspended, had their pay docked, or rank reduced as a result of the incident. The spill has led to the poisoning of thousands of military families and continues to pose a threat to the purity of Honolulu’s water supply.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has issued censure letters to the three rear admirals and revoked personal military decorations awarded to several other officers involved. Del Toro stated that taking accountability is an important step in restoring trust in the Navy’s relationship with the community and ensuring that every action is taken to remedy the issue.

An investigation concluded that a series of errors caused the spill, which resulted in the leakage of 21,000 gallons of fuel. Most of this fuel flowed into a fire suppression line and sat there for six months, causing the line to sag. In November, a cart rammed into the drooping line, releasing 20,000 gallons of fuel into a French drain and the drinking water well. As a result of the spill, about 6,000 people experienced nausea, headaches, rashes, and other symptoms.

In the past, the Navy had assured Oahu residents that the water was safe despite previous leaks from Red Hill’s tanks. The incident has upset various groups, including veterans, environmentalists, Native Hawaiians, liberals, and conservatives. Wayne Tanaka, the director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, criticized the reprimands as being “outrageous” given the scale of the damage and the ongoing threat posed by the leak.

After months of resistance, the military will drain the World War II-era tanks as ordered by the state of Hawaii. Repairs to the facility’s equipment have been made, and the fuel removal process will begin next month with an expected completion date of January 19.

The Navy’s investigation found that a culture of complacency, a lack of critical thinking, and a lack of timely communication contributed to the spill. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono from Hawaii called for true accountability, including addressing systemic command and control failures and infrastructure issues. Hirono, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that Navy leadership needs to treat these service-wide issues with the seriousness and urgency they demand.

In light of the incident, Hirono pledged to continue pushing the Navy to make the necessary systemic changes to prevent future spills and mitigate the impacts of this incident.

Focus keyword: navy fuel spill at Pearl Harbor