HCR 149: Urging the united States Navy to provide consistent, in-person participation at community REPRESENTATION INITIATIVE meetings related to Red Hill remediation efforts.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Urging the united States Navy to provide consistent, in-person participation at community REPRESENTATION INITIATIVE meetings related to Red Hill remediation efforts.

     WHEREAS, the United States Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility consists of twenty steel-lined underground storage tanks that were built from 1940 to 1943; and

     WHEREAS, the tanks are located only about one hundred feet above the United States Environmental Protection Agency's designated sole-source groundwater aquifer that provides drinking water to approximately four hundred thousand residents of the island of Oahu; and

     WHEREAS, over the course of eight decades, it is estimated that 1,940,000 gallons of fueled has leaked; and

     WHEREAS, on November 20, 2021, about ninety-three thousand individuals served by the Navy's potable water system for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam were directly affected when the Navy's Red Hill water shaft was contaminated by the release of up to nineteen thousand gallons of fuel; and

                WHEREAS, over six thousand individuals sought medical attention, and one thousand were forced to leave their homes due to the contamination; and

     WHEREAS, fuel released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility remains in the environment, trapped within the complex geological formations beneath and near the tanks; and

     WHEREAS, the gross negligence leading to this significant impact on public health has tainted the overall trust Hawaii residents have with the Navy's ability to manage the situation going forward; and

     WHEREAS, Moanalua residents and military families have organized community meetings relating to Red Hill remediation efforts to stay abreast of progress and create a network of support; and

     WHEREAS, a Community Representation Initiative (CRI) was added to the EPA approved 2023 Red Hill Administrative Consent Order due to public request, and CRI meetings were held periodically from September 16, 2023 through December 16, 2025; and

     WHEREAS, the CRI has created an opportunity for more local stakeholders to be actively engaged in the remediation conversation; and

     WHEREAS, on February 11, 2026, the Navy's obligation to attend CRI meetings was removed based on the newly approved 2026 Community Engagement Plan;

     WHEREAS, while the Navy has committed to continued participation in the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee, Neighborhood Board meetings, an annual town hall, and other events, their continued participation in the CRIs is critical to effective community engagement; and

     WHEREAS, the Navy's participation in these community meetings would maintain an open dialogue and promote transparency that has been degraded over time; now therefore

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, the United States Navy is urged to provide consistent, in-person participation at Community Representation Initiative meetings related to Red Hill remediation efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the United States Navy is urged to provide regular public updates on water quality testing, remediation timelines, and ongoing environmental safeguards; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the United States Navy is urged to engage directly with affected residents and provide clear and timely reporting on progress; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Report Title: 

United States Navy; Red Hill; Community Engagement; Remediation