Hirono Statement on Updated DOD Plan for Red Hill Defueling and Closure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Department of Defense’s updated plan for the defueling and closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility:

“DOD has updated its defueling plan and added additional information in response to feedback from state, local, and community leaders. This updated plan should continue to prioritize safety, while streamlining certain processes to allow for a faster defueling timeline. While we await the Department of Health’s review of this updated plan, it’s important that DOD continues laying the groundwork for successful defueling and closure.

“I’ve urged DOD to quickly name a Commander for the Task Force who will be responsible for Red Hill’s closure to ensure all components of the defueling process move forward in a timely manner. This Commander should be a leader who is committed to transparency, collaboration, and garnering community trust to get the job done. We all share one goal—safely defueling and permanently closing the Red Hill facility as quickly as possible and I expect this plan to get us closer to that important goal. As a Member of the Armed Services Committee, I’ll continue working with our Congressional delegation and the federal government to ensure this process continues moving forward.”

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