CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii – Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, introduced the institution of Joint Job Pressure Crimson Hill (JTF Crimson Hill) on June 30.
The Secretary of Protection directed the standup of JTF Crimson Hill. As soon as on-site in Hawaii, the JTF Commander’s sole accountability will likely be to make sure the protected and expeditious defueling of the Crimson Hill Bulk Gasoline Storage Facility in shut coordination with the State of Hawaii.
“That is an operational method to make sure mission accomplishment,” mentioned Aquilino. “That is so essential that the Secretary has determined to take a special method. And the dedication from the Division is to defuel the tanks per the path given, as expeditiously as attainable with out compromising security anyplace.”
The Division of Protection (DoD) at present launched its plan to soundly defuel the Crimson Hill Bulk Gasoline Storage Facility by the top of calendar 12 months 2024.
The removing and relocation of the gasoline will start as soon as the DoD has deemed that Crimson Hill is protected to defuel and regulatory companions present last approval.
The Honorable Meredith Berger, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Vitality, Installations and Setting, mentioned, “We all know that each motion we take should be protecting of human well being, the atmosphere, and nationwide safety. For these causes we’ve got drafted a plan that’s clear, maximizes security, and acknowledges and minimizes dangers.”
The five-phase defueling plan, which can be downloaded right here, demonstrates DoD’s dedication to take away greater than 100 million gallons of gasoline as shortly as attainable, in a protected and knowledgeable method, and with full transparency to regulators, intergovernmental companions, and with the folks of Hawaii. The plan incorporates trade greatest practices and will likely be repeatedly refined through the planning and implementation course of.
DoD will coordinate with the Environmental Safety Company and the State of Hawaii Division of Well being to fulfill the necessities within the Emergency Order expeditiously and can guarantee compliance with environmental safeguards, defueling Crimson Hill in accordance with relevant federal, state, and native rules.
