SB 2475: Red Hill Remediation Special Fund; Remediation; Monitoring and Testing; Groundwater Modeling and Sampling; Water Data Testing and Verification; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO RED HILL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that numerous fuel spills have occurred over the decades at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, including the most recent occurrence on November 20, 2021.  One of the results of the November 2021 fuel spill was the birth of the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI), a working group that met regularly in 2023 and posed questions, conducted research, listened to subject-matter experts, and formulated recommended policies regarding how to address the various, complex environmental and public-health hazards caused by the various releases of fuel.

     After much diligent work, the Red Hill WAI issued a public report in November 2023 that set forth its findings and recommendations.  Some of the recommendations can only be addressed by the federal government, while other recommendations can be undertaken by the State and city and county of Honolulu.  The legislature further finds that there is an urgent and crucial need for further research on how to accelerate the degradation of fuel in the environment to prevent the fuel from reaching potable-water sources and for a better understanding of the unique hydrology of Red Hill through groundwater modeling.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of land and natural resources for these purposes.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the Red Hill remediation special fund established pursuant to section 174E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the Red Hill remediation special fund established pursuant to section 174E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be allocated in the following manner:

     (1)  $           for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility;

     (2)  $           for environmental monitoring and testing;

     (3)  $           for research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and

     (4)  $           for independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The department of land and natural resources shall seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense for all of the costs identified in section 3 of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Red Hill Remediation Special Fund; Remediation; Monitoring and Testing; Groundwater Modeling and Sampling; Water Data Testing and Verification; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard.  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to red hill.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that numerous fuel spills have occurred over the decades at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, including the most recent occurrence on November 20, 2021.  One of the results of the November 2021 fuel spill was the birth of the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI), a working group that met regularly in 2023 and posed questions, conducted research, listened to subject-matter experts, and formulated recommended policies regarding how to address the various, complex environmental and public-health hazards caused by the various releases of fuel.

     After much diligent work, the Red Hill WAI issued a public report in November 2023 that set forth its findings and recommendations.  Some of the recommendations can only be addressed by the federal government, while other recommendations can be undertaken by the State and city and county of Honolulu.  The legislature further finds that there is an urgent and crucial need for further research on how to accelerate the degradation of fuel in the environment to prevent the fuel from reaching potable-water sources and for a better understanding of the unique hydrology of Red Hill through groundwater modeling.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of land and natural resources for these purposes.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $11,169,513 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the Red Hill remediation special fund established pursuant to section 174E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the Red Hill remediation special fund established pursuant to section 174E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $11,169,513 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be allocated in the following manner:

     (1)  $2,800,193 for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility;

     (2)  $4,379,320 for environmental monitoring and testing;

     (3)  $750,000 for research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and

     (4)  $3,240,000 for independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The department of land and natural resources shall seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense for all of the costs identified in section 3 of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Red Hill Remediation Special Fund; Remediation; Monitoring and Testing; Groundwater Modeling and Sampling; Water Data Testing and Verification; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard.  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2601

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 2475

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2475 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RED HILL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Appropriate funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard; and

     (2)  Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaiʻi System, Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, and ten individuals.

     Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committees find that, according to a Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative report, up to 1,940,000 gallons of fuel have spilled into the environment at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility over its eighty years of operation.  Although the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility was defueled in 2024 and is in the process of being decommissioned for permanent closure, your Committees further find that the impact of past spills and releases of hazardous materials to the environment and underground sole source aquifer remain largely unknown.  This measure will assist the State in fulfilling its constitutional duty to conserve and protect its natural resources, including the unique hydrology of Red Hill, by appropriating funds for further research that will help expedite the full remediation of Red Hill.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     Your Committees note that this measure, as amended, contains an appropriation for an unspecified amount.  Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider inserting an amount of $11,169,513 for fiscal year 2026-2027.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2475, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2475, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs,