Underground Storage Tank Bill Updates
/Yesterday and today, bills that would finally regulate the tanks at Red Hill and other military underground field constructed tanks elsewhere in the Hawaiian Islands were heard in senate and house committees. A huge mahalo to those who submitted testimony and showed up at the hearings to let the Navy know that 20 years is TOO LONG to fix the tanks.
Bill updates:
SB 2930 deferred until 2/9/18 at 1:15PM in conference room 224.
HB 2712 passed through committee with amendments. This bill has two additional committees to get through before the 2/16 first lateral deadline. Contact Chairs Mizuno and Luke NOW and request this bill be heard in their committees before the deadline!
Also, last week we attended the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board meeting to hear what the Navy had to say about their plans for Red Hill. Department of Health and the Board of Water Supply were also in attendance. The Navy gave a very technical presentation outlining their current work under the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), including their usual spiel that our drinking water is safe. While it is great that the Navy is engaging in public outreach on this issue, they are still providing little assurance that the tanks will not leak, nor outlining any plans they have to handle yet another possible future spill. The Sierra Club still has concerns that the 20 year timeline within which to upgrade the tanks at Red Hill is too long. The Navy will present again on:
- Thursday February 8th at the Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Neighborhood Board meeting.
- Wednesday February 14th at the Palolo Neighborhood Board meeting. Agenda pending, check back soon.
SAVE THE DATE: The evening of Wednesday March 14th at Moanalua Middle School for the Navy's next public meeting on Red Hill. We will update you as the date approaches!