DOH News Release – As JTF-Red Hill completes operations, DOH looks ahead to overseeing permanent closure of Red Hill facility and aquifer remediation
Posted on Mar 28, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIA‘ĀINA
KENNETH S. FINK, MD, MGA, MPH
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HO‘OKELE
As JTF-Red Hill completes operations, DOH looks ahead to overseeing permanent closure of Red Hill facility and aquifer remediation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2024 24-037
HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that Joint Task Force – Red Hill (JTF-RH) completed its obligations to safely defuel the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility as prescribed in DOH’s May 2022 Emergency Order.
In a letter to Vice Admiral John Wade and Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett, DOH Deputy Director for Environmental Health Kathleen Ho expressed DOH’s gratitude for JTF-RH’s successful work to safely remove 104 million gallons of fuel from the Red Hill facility.
Deputy Director Ho also reiterated DOH’s commitment to overseeing Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill (NCTF-RH) as it continues to work to permanently close the facility and remediate the aquifer.
“Although we concur that the JTF-RH’s defueling obligations are complete, there is still much work to be done to permanently close the Red Hill facility and remediate the environment,” Deputy Director Ho said. “We will hold NCTF-RH accountable to complete this work and expect that they will execute these tasks with the same diligence and commitment to community involvement exhibited by JTF-RH.”
Click here to read the DOH letter.
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Media Contact:
Stephen J. Downes
Director of Communications
Hawai‘i State Department of Health
808-859-9658