News Releases from Department of Health

Hawai‘i Department of Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to accept public comments at Nov. 19 public meeting on the U.S. Navy’s proposed Tank Upgrade Alternative (TUA) and Release Detection for Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting to receive oral and written comments on the U.S. Navy and Defense Logistics Agency’s proposed plan to upgrade the large underground storage tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. EPA and DOH will consider all comments before choosing whether to approve or disapprove the proposal in whole or in part.

The Navy and Defense Logistic Agency’s combined tank upgrade alternatives and release detection proposal document is available online at  https://www.epa.gov/red-hill. It can also be viewed in person at the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, 2827 Waimano Home Road, #100 in Pearl City.

The public meeting will be held from 6-8pm on Nov. 19 at Moanalua Middle School at 1289 Mahiole Street in Honolulu. All interested parties may attend to present relevant information and individual opinion. Anyone unable to attend may send written comments to Attn: Red Hill 2827 Waimano Home Rd #100 Pearl City, HI 96782 or [email protected]. Written comments must be received by Dec. 9, 2019. To request an auxiliary aid or service (e.g. ASL interpreter, large print) for the public meeting, call 808-586-4226 (voice/TDD) or email [email protected] by Nov. 12.

Public hearing for proposed amendment to Underground Storage Tank (UST) Rules to be held Dec. 2, 2019

Department of Health will hold a public hearing for the proposed amendment of Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) chapter 11-280.1. The proposed amendments are primarily designed to increase the protections chapter 11-280.1, HAR, affords Hawaii’s environment and public health by requiring all field-constructed underground storage tanks (USTs) and USTs that are part of airport hydrant fuel distribution systems to have secondary containment by July 15, 2045. Amendments are also proposed to improve the clarity of existing requirements and ensure that the state regulations are fully consistent with the federal UST regulations.

The proposed amendments can be viewed at 2827 Waimano Home Rd #100, Pearl City, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (except state holidays) and are posted online at https://health.hawaii.gov/shwb/ust-har. Copies may be mailed on request with payment of a five cent per page copy fee and postage; call 808-586-4226 to make a request.

The public hearing will be at 9 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2019 at the State Laboratory Division auditorium at 2725 Waimano Home Rd. in Pearl City. All interested parties may attend to present relevant information and individual opinion. Anyone unable to attend may send written testimony to Attn: UST Rules 2827 Waimano Home Rd #100 Pearl City, HI 96782 or [email protected]. Testimony must be received by Dec. 16, 2019. To request an auxiliary aid or service (e.g. ASL interpreter, large print) for the hearing, call 808-586-4226 (voice/TDD) or e-mail [email protected] by Nov. 20.