In response to fuel spills in 2021 that contaminated drinking water for over 90,000 households, the Department of Defense (DOD) has put forth a new, accelerated timeline for emptying the Red Hill underground fuel storage facility in Hawaii. This initiative, known as the "defueling process," is set to begin on October 16th, 2023.

Originally, the defueling process was projected to complete by the end of 2024. However, improvements in facility repair and defueling efficiency have allowed for a significant reduction in the timeline. The revised plan aims to remove a substantial portion of the 104 million gallons of fuel currently stored in the tanks within three months, by January 2024.

Following the initial defueling, an estimated 100,000 to 400,000 gallons of fuel will remain in the tanks. The DOD is in the process of finalizing a plan for safely removing this residual fuel.

The start of the defueling operation hinges on meeting several conditions, including obtaining necessary approvals from regulators, securing contracts with tanker services for fuel transportation, and implementing essential repairs at the Red Hill facility to ensure safe fuel drainage.

The DOD's accelerated plan for defueling is a result of a collaborative effort with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health (DOH). This initiative represents a major step in mitigating environmental risks and protecting the health of local communities.

Backlinks:

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/05/16/breaking-news/defueling-red-hill-planned-for-october-under-latest-timeline/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/05/16/dod-crews-begin-defueling-red-hill-underground-tanks-october/

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