Closure Plan
Background
Under the 2023 Administrative Consent Order, Navy is required to submit a Closure Plan that describes the process in which the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) will be emptied of all residual fuel products and sludge, cleaned, and permanently closed.
Navy submitted the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility Closure Plan to EPA and Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) on November 1, 2022. Supplements to the Closure Plan were provided on February 28, 2023, May 31, 2023, and June 28, 2024. The plan documents can be accessed on the Navy Region Hawaii webpage.
EPA Comments on the Navy's Closure Plan
Closure Plan, Supplements, and Supporting Documents
- EPA Comments on Supplement 2 of the RHBFSF Closure Plan (pdf)
- EPA Comments on Supplement 1 of the RHBFSF Closure Plan and Other Associated Closure Plan Documents (pdf)
- EPA Response to Tank Closure Plan for the RHBFSF (pdf)
Tank Cleaning Work Plans
On October 4, 2023, Navy submitted the Tank Cleaning Work Plan, Environmental Protection Plan, and Waste Management Plan. The plans describe how Navy will clean the Red Hill bulk fuel storage tanks, main facility sumps, and four surge tanks. Below are EPA’s responses to these plans:
- EPA Response to NCTF Comments on Conditional Approval of Tank Cleaning Work Plan (pdf)
- EPA Conditional Approval of Work Plan, Environmental Protection Plan with Spill Response Plan, and Waste Management Plan regarding Fuel Storage Tank Cleaning for Closure (pdf)
- EPA Comments on Work Plan, Environmental Protection Plan, and Waste Management Plan regarding Fuel Storage Tank Cleaning for Closure (pdf)
Tank Cleaning Verification Plan
In support of the Tank Cleaning documents, Navy was asked to develop a Tank Cleaning Verification Plan. The plan will be used to verify that all residual fuel, sludge, and vapor has been removed from the twenty bulk fuel storage tanks, four surge tanks, and two main facility sumps during the cleaning process.
- EPA Conditional Approval of Tank Cleaning Verification Plan (pdf)
- EPA Comments on April 12, 2024, Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan (pdf)
- EPA Comments on Tank Cleaning Verification Plan (pdf)
Tank Cleaning Correspondence
- EPA Letter: Conditional Approval of Tank 6 Degassing (pdf)
- EPA Letter: Conditional Approval of Tank 8 Sludge Removal (pdf)
- EPA Letter: Conditional Approval of Tank 8 Ventilation (pdf)
Pipeline Deconstruction and Removal
As part of the permanent closure of the RHBFSF, Navy will remove the approximately 56,860 linear feet of fuel product pipelines that connects the 20 bulk fuel storage tanks with the pumphouse located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Removal of the pipelines will prevent fuel from ever being transferred to RHBFSF and will also ensure that all residual trapped in the pipelines will be removed.
On October 24, 2024, Navy submitted the Pipeline Removal Work Plan, Environmental Protection Plan, and Demolition Work Plan. The plans describe how Navy will drain approximately 4,000 gallons of residual fuel and deconstruct, remove, and dispose of the three fuel product pipelines.