The Navy captain who was accountable for the Fleet Logistics Middle Pearl Harbor in the course of the Might 2021 Purple Hill jet gasoline spill is just not a goal of the U.S. Division of Justice’s ongoing legal investigation into the environmental catastrophe that affected about 93, 000 folks, his legal professional informed the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Capt. Trent C. Kalp, 51, was in cost in the course of the Might 2021 gasoline leak and was succeeded by Capt. Albert L. Hornyak on Aug. 6, 2021, earlier than the November 2021 spill. Hornyak was eliminated of his command in April 2022 “resulting from a lack of confidence in his capacity to carry out his duties following a collection of management and oversight failures on the Purple Hill Bulk Gas Storage Facility.”
Hornyak raised considerations concerning the facility’s security in leaked emails obtained by the Star-Advertiser.
Kalp testified earlier than the grand jury Dec. 8 and has not acquired a goal letter from DOJ, in keeping with his legal professional, Victor J. Bakke.
“We acquired a letter requesting his look, and we voluntarily appeared, ” stated Bakke in an interview with the Star-Advertiser. “Right now, to our information, we’re not a goal of the investigation.”
Kalp is presently director of fleet provide.
The report on the spill ready by the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet famous that Kalp eliminated army oversight of day-to-day operations at Purple Hill just some months previous to the Might 2021 leak, inflicting a “considerably ” elevated danger on the facility.
It additionally discovered that he didn’t “determine, mitigate, or immediately deal with these dangers, ” oversaw an “alarming degree of procedural non-compliance, ” on Might 6, 2021, and demonstrated an general lack of essential pondering and management.
DOJ is within the midst of a federal grand jury investigation into the 2021 Purple Hill gasoline spill to find out whether or not legal fees are warranted.
Civilian and U.S. Division of Protection officers accountable for Purple Hill operations in the course of the gasoline leaks have been testifying earlier than the panel.
These officers embrace civilian contractors working at Purple Hill on the time of the spills and Navy commanders like Kalp.
Sherri R. Eng, 56, Naval Services Engineering Techniques Command environmental enterprise line chief and Navy Area Hawaii environmental program supervisor, was additionally interviewed by the grand jury. Eng didn’t instantly reply to Star-Advertiser requests for remark.
Particular brokers with the U.S. Environmental Safety Company’s Felony Investigation Division and the Naval Felony Investigative Service have been shepherding witnesses to the panel and supporting the grand jury’s investigation for months.
Regardless of witnesses strolling into and out of the U.S. District Courthouse in Honolulu en path to the proceedings and the high-profile nature of the spills that sickened 1000’s and threatened Oahu’s aquifers, federal officers are saying nothing concerning the legal probe.
“Out of respect for the investigative course of, NCIS doesn’t touch upon or verify particulars referring to ongoing investigations, ” Jeff Houston, a spokesperson for NCIS Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., informed the Star-Advertiser in a press release.
A spokesperson for the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet informed the Star-Advertiser in a press release, “It might be inappropriate to touch upon an ongoing legal investigation.”
The U.S. Division of Justice additionally declined to debate the investigation into whether or not legal fees are warranted.
“As a common matter, the division will neither verify nor deny the existence of an ongoing investigation, ” stated Wyn Hornbuckle, deputy director of DOJ’s Workplace of Public Affairs, in a press release to the Star-Advertiser.
The probe is being led by Krishna S. Dighe, senior counsel with DOJ’s Surroundings and Pure Assets Division, which is tasked with implementing “the Nation’s civil and legal environmental legal guidelines, together with the Clear Air Act, Clear Water Act, and dangerous waste legal guidelines.”
The water contamination affected roughly 93, 000 folks, primarily army households. For months the state Division of Well being issued an advisory that the water was unsafe to drink. Hundreds of households relocated to resort rooms or moved out of their housing because the Navy and regulators labored to make the water secure to drink. The all-clear was declared in March 2022, about 4 months after the jet gasoline contamination was discovered.
In March 2022, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin introduced the division would completely shut down the Purple Hill facility following the catastrophe. The choice got here amid withering stress from state officers, the Hawaii congressional delegation, protests and intensive neighborhood opposition to conserving the beneath -ground, World Struggle II-era gasoline facility in operation.
The administration of the Purple Hill gasoline spills and the disclosures of knowledge have eroded native belief within the Navy. Defueling of the Purple Hill facility is projected to be accomplished in July 2024.—— Star-Advertiser employees author Kevin Knodell contributed to this report.
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