NCTF-Red Hill Begins AFFF Concentrate Removal

by Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill

10 April 2024 HONOLULU, HI --

HALAWA, Hawaii (April 5, 2024) Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Dyches, deputy operations officer for facilities at Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), explains spill containment procedures to officials from the Hawaii Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF), April 5, 2024. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Glenn Slaughter)

240405-N-IS471-1354

HALAWA, Hawaii (April 5, 2024) Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Dyches, deputy operations officer for facilities at Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), explains spill containment procedures to officials from the Hawaii Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF), April 5, 2024. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Glenn Slaughter)

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Photo By: Petty Officer 1st Class Glenn Slaughter

VIRIN: 240405-N-IS471-1354

HONOLULU, Hawaii (April 10, 2024) - Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) began removing Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrate from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF), April 8.  

After conducting a walkthrough with the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week, authorization was given to NCTF-RH to begin the removal. As of April 10, NCTF-RH successfully removed approximately 791 gallons of AFFF, which is 77 percent of the estimated total of AFFF concentrate remaining in the facility.  

The NCTF team has installed multi-level spill prevention measures to ensure that all AFFF concentrate is managed in a manner that is protective of the aquifer. The AFFF concentrate is being drained into drums and will be transported to the continental U.S. for proper disposal.  

Senior officers and representatives from both the EPA and DOH have been onsite during each draining evolution to monitor progress. 

“Once the operation is complete, a major threat to the aquifer will be removed,” said Rear Adm. Steve Barnett, NCTF-RH commander. “While a very small amount of residual fuel remains in the facility, the 104 million gallons of fuel and the AFFF concentrate represented the primary threats to the aquifer. We look forward to safely completing this milestone to protect our community and the environment.”   
NCTF-RH remains on track to have all AFFF concentrate drained from the system by the end of April.