URGING THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT, IN-PERSON PARTICIPATION AT COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION INITIATIVE MEETINGS RELATED TO RED HILL REMEDIATION EFFORTS.

HR141

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

141

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the United States Navy is urged to provide
consistent, in-person participation at community 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

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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

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

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:
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United
States Navy; Red Hill; Community Engagement; Remediation