The Honolulu Star-Advertiser had requested a high Navy official throughout a Wednesday information convention, two days after the spill, whether or not there was video footage and was informed there was none.
A Navy report submitted to state well being officers says that 1,300 gallons of poisonous fireplace suppression chemical compounds spilled earlier this week on the Purple Hill gasoline facility, a rise from the Navy’s preliminary estimate of 1,100 gallons. Army officers additionally mentioned Friday that there’s video footage of the spill after telling reporters earlier this week that there have been no cameras within the neighborhood of the discharge.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser had requested a high Navy official throughout a Wednesday information convention, two days after the spill, whether or not there was video footage and was informed there was none.
“There isn’t any video digital camera positioned there to get the spill, and I am not conscious of any video of this incident in any respect, ” mentioned U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Wade, commander of Joint Job Pressure-Purple Hill.
The Navy mentioned Friday, nonetheless, that there have been two cameras within the neighborhood of the spill close to (drainage passage ) Adit 6, solely considered one of which was operational.
Navy spokesperson Lydia Robertson mentioned high Navy officers weren’t conscious of the footage on the time of the information convention and that the Navy was now “correcting the file.”
“Throughout the first 24 hours of the discharge JTF Purple Hill acquired preliminary data that Adit 6 didn’t have closed-circuit cameras, ” she mentioned. “Operators of the closed-circuit system later knowledgeable JTF Purple Hill of the existence of two cameras (one operational ) at Adit 6.”
Navy officers declined to launch the footage Friday. Robertson mentioned it is “presently beneath assessment for future launch ” however did not specify a date.
“All questions concerning the content material of the video shall be answered after the video is cleared for launch, ” she mentioned.
The Navy additionally hasn’t launched footage of the November 2021 gasoline leak at Purple Hill that contaminated its consuming water system and sickened army households, despite the fact that Honolulu Civil Beat obtained the video elsewhere and printed it on its web site in July.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser filed a Freedom of Data Act request with the Navy for all footage from that spill months in the past, however the data request has not been fulfilled.
There are 57 closed-circuit cameras that file gasoline operations at Purple Hill and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In February, following the November 2021 spill, Hawaii Congressman Kai Kahele mentioned that the Navy had knowledgeable him that there was no footage from 2021’s gasoline spills as a result of cameras had been inoperable since January 2021 after a contractor inadvertently severed a cable that gives energy to 44 of the 57 closed-circuit cameras.
In June of this yr, the Star-Advertiser requested the Navy whether or not the entire cameras had since been fastened and was informed that that they had. Nevertheless, the Navy now says that solely 30 of the 37 cameras positioned at Purple Hill work. The Navy mentioned it wanted extra time Friday to trace down details about why these seven cameras aren’t working.
Measurement of spill unclear Following Monday’s incident, Navy officers mentioned they believed 1, 100 gallons of a hearth suppressant referred to as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, had been launched inside a Purple Hill passageway. High officers mentioned the AFFF had been contained in a 1, 100-gallon tank that was now fully empty.
However in a report offered to the state Division of Well being detailing environmental testing, the Navy mentioned it was 1, 300 gallons.
Robertson mentioned that the 1, 100-gallons determine was “an preliminary evaluation primarily based on data out there on the time.” It isn’t clear from the place the extra 200 gallons of AFFF would have come.
The Navy says it nonetheless would not know the reason for the spill.
“The investigation will look at all facets of the reason for the discharge in addition to the quantities launched, primarily based on many components, ” mentioned Robertson. “We’ll work with the regulators to make sure the positioning is remediated.”
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