THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	109
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, HONOLULU BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY, AND NAVY TO EXPEDITIOUSLY IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE BY THE RED HILL FUEL STORAGE FACILITY TASK FORCE.

 

 

     WHEREAS, twenty tanks located in the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility are only one hundred feet above a major groundwater aquifer that serves as a source of drinking water for thousands of Oahu residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2014, in response to a fuel tank leak at the facility, the Legislature established a task force to study the effects of the leak and provide the Legislature with findings and recommendations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the city, state, and federal officials of the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force noted in its report to the Legislature that double-lining the large and aging tanks provides one method of preventing future leaks capable of contaminating a major underground aquifer; and

 

     WHEREAS, in its report, the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force recommended that the Legislature:

 

     (1)  Encourage the Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and the Navy to continue efforts to protect the water and drinking supply of Hawaii, particularly through installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells, increased frequency of all monitoring activities, and sampling of the water supply;

 

     (2)  Encourage the Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and the Navy to keep the public informed on matters of public interest regarding the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility; and

 

     (3)  Encourage the Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Navy to finalize a negotiated agreement for the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility that protects drinking water resources, appropriately responds to the reported release of petroleum, and minimizes the threat of potential future release; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and Navy are requested to expeditiously implement the recommendations of the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force to the Legislature; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

 

     (1)  The Navy is urged to install double-lining, also called secondary containment, at the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility;

 

     (2)  The Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and Navy are urged to install additional groundwater monitoring wells and increase the frequency of all monitoring and sampling activities at the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility; and

 

     (3)  The Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, and Navy are urged to finalize a negotiated agreement for the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility that protects drinking water resources, appropriately reports the release of petroleum, and minimizes the threat of potential future releases; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and Manager and Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

Report Title: 

Department Of Health; Task Force; Red Hill; Fuel Leak