Hirono Statement on Announcement of EPA Order to Ensure Safe Defueling and Closure of Red Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it finalized a consent order with the U.S. Department of the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to ensure the safe defueling and closure of the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility:

“This finalized consent order is an important step toward the permanent defueling and closure of Red Hill. I am glad the EPA listened to the concerns of our communities and incorporated that feedback into this order,” said Senator Hirono. “The order provides clear guidelines for the Navy and the Department of Defense to follow in order to ensure Red Hill’s safe and timely defueling and closure. As we advance toward defueling, I’m grateful for all of the parties and individuals who have worked collaboratively to get us to this point. I will continue working with state and federal partners to ensure the terms of this order are followed and that the safety of our communities is prioritized throughout the defueling process.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Senator Hirono is working closely with DOD leadership, community leaders in Hawaii, and her Senate colleagues to help ensure the safe and timely defueling and closure of Red Hill. In December 2022, she secured $1 billion in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act for defueling and closing Red Hill. She also joined the Hawaii delegation in calling for a congressionally-initiated independent investigation into how DOD and the Navy responded to PFAS-based contamination events at Red Hill. In November 2022, Senator Hirono led a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding information about DOD support for families and individuals impacted by the November 2021 fuel release. In April 2022, she hosted Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) in Hawaii for a tour of Red Hill.

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