Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill Operational Update

by by NCTF-RH Public Affairs

01 May 2025 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (May 1, 2025) – Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) continued safe and deliberate progress in March and April toward the decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF).
 
Navy Aiea-Halawa Shaft Reactivation: NCTF-RH personnel, in close coordination with the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), are coordinating on the reactivation of the Navy Aiea-Halawa Shaft (NAHS). DOH provided conditional approval on Feb. 10, 2025, for NCTF-RH to begin the process of reactivation.
 
In April, as part of this conditional approval, NCTF-RH began a pilot study of the granular activated carbon treatment system at this site to collect data that will demonstrate usage and impacts of the treatment system. Granular activated carbon or “GAC” can treat a wide range of industrial chemicals in water, such as, fuel oil and solvents. The organic contaminants sorb to the carbon medium in the filter system to eliminate them before the water leaves the GAC system. The Navy Aiea-Halawa Shaft will also have an ion-exchange treatment system which is highly effective at capturing any PFAS filtered through. The proposed GAC/ion exchange treatment system will provide the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam drinking water system an advanced, final polishing treatment which exceeds what a typical home water filter can provide.
 
NCTF-RH will inform the public prior to connecting the NAHS to the Navy’s drinking water system.
 
Tank 3 & 4 Degassing Operations: The Navy completed ventilation of tank 3 on March 31, 2025. Tank 4 ventilation began on April 4, 2025. Throughout the ventilation process, NCTF-RH provides hourly Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) updates on the mobile app with daily and monthly summaries available on the NCTF-RH website at https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil.
 
The Navy is ventilating and cleaning the tanks in pairs. Tanks 3 and 4 are the fifth and sixth tanks to be ventilated, out of a total of 14 tanks to be ventilated and cleaned as part of the RHBFSF closure process. Viewers may track tank cleaning progression at https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/Portals/101/24%20APR%202025%20revision_1.pdf
 
For more information on AQM, including daily data, the consolidated plan, and information on stations, please visit the following link: https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/Tank-Ventilation/Air-Quality-Monitoring-AQM.
 
Red Hill Highlights: NCTF-RH launched a newsletter to provide the public with the latest news and information on the safe and deliberate decommissioning of the RHBFSF. Each edition will cover topics impacting the facility’s closure process and will be published weekly on the NCTF-RH mobile app and website at https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/Document-Library/Red-Hill-Highlights/ .
 
NCTF-RH Environmental Summary: NCTF-RH has made significant progress in its deliberate environmental work in and around Red Hill. NCTF-RH summarized these activities in a document now available on the task force website at NCTF-RH Activities Summary
This update summarizes the environmental actions taken, including environmental monitoring and testing, environmental remediation actions, coordination efforts with regulators and public communication.
 
“Let’s Talk Red Hill” Podcast: NCTF-RH released the following eight episodes of the podcast series in March and April:
- Episode 26: Drinking Water Test Results Part I
- Episode 25: Community Engagement
- Episode 24 NCTF-RH Communication Plan
- Episode 23: Red Hill Water Treatment Facility Environmental Assessment
- Episode 22: Air Quality Monitoring
- Episode 21: NCTF-RH Operational Update
- Episode 20: Open House Walkthrough
- Episode 19: Tank Degassing
- Episode 18: Open Houses
 
The weekly series allows experts the chance to share the latest updates and insights on the Navy’s progress in closing the RHBFSF. The series can be found on the NCTF-RH website at https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/Media/Videos/, the NCTF-RH YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@NCTF-RH/featured, the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) website at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/NCTF-RH  , and the NCTF-RH mobile app.
 
Engagements: In March and April, NCTF-RH participated in, or attended, the following engagement events:

• Military Affairs Council meeting
• Fuel Tank Advisory Committee 
• Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) meeting
• Red Hill Remediation Roundtable
• Aiea Community Association meeting
• Local, state, and congressional leadership briefs and site visits
• Onizuka Day of Exploration 
• Community Representation Initiative meeting
• Neighborhood boards
• Drinking water information booths 

 
Additionally, NCTF-RH Commander Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett hosted Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, and Josh Cook, EPA Region 9 Administrator, for a Red Hill site visit. They discussed specifics of the tank cleaning process, emergency response preparations, environmental protection and remediation efforts, and the Navy's commitment to safely and deliberately close the RHBFSF. Photos from the visit can be found on DVIDS at

HONOLULU (March 22, 2025) Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, commander, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) greets Josh Cook, Region 9 administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, before a site visit to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) in Honolulu, March 22, 2025. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment, and continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)

or on the NCTF-RH website at https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/.
 
Open House: The Navy hosted its quarterly open house at the Alfred Los Banos Hall at Ke`ehi Lagoon Memorial on March 12. The open house featured information about NCTF-RH activities over the past year and those planned for the remainder of 2025. The next open house is scheduled for May 21 at the Hokulani Community Center located at 298 Main St, Honolulu, HI 96818 from 5 – 7 p.m. Updated photos and video from the March open house can be found on the NCTF-RH website at https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/ or on DVIDS at

HONOLULU (March 12, 2025) Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) subject matter experts speak with guests at an interactive groundwater monitoring display during the NCTF-RH open house held at the Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial in Honolulu, March 12, 2025. NCTF-RH hosted the open house for members of the community to learn more about current and future efforts of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) closure, tank cleaning, and drinking water monitoring. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment, and continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Glenn Slaughter)

).
 
NCTF-RH is committed to working with all government agencies and community stakeholders to safely and deliberately close the RHBFSF underground storage tanks and associated piping system, conduct long-term environmental remediation, and ensure continued access to safe drinking water in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. 
 
For more information about NCTF-RH, visit https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/ or download our free mobile app by searching for "NCTF-Red Hill" in the Apple App store or Google Play store. For imagery, video and other digital media please visit our DVIDS site here: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/NCTF-RH.

SAFE. DELIBERATE. ENGAGED. COMMITTED. 

- NCTF-RH - 

Please find related video and photos here:
 
B-roll:

• NCTF-RH Open House:

Photos (oldest to newest):

• NCTF-RH Hosts Open House:
  

  HONOLULU (March 12, 2025) Capt. Steven Stasick, facilities director, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH), speaks with a guest about a fuel tank size comparison model during the NCTF-RH open house at the Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial in Honolulu, March 12, 2025. NCTF-RH hosted the open house for members of the community to learn more about current and future efforts of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) closure, tank cleaning, and drinking water monitoring. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment, and continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
• NCTF-RH Replaces GAC Filtration Media:
  

  HONOLULU (March 24, 2025) Bulk bags of fresh filtration media are staged and ready for use in granular activated carbon systems at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF), in Honolulu, March 24, 2025. Carbon inside the filtration media removes potential contaminants from the water through adsorption. GAC technicians replace the system with new bags of filtration media approximately every six months. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, Navy Closure Task Force Red-Hill (NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment, and continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
• NCTF-RH Hosts Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency:
  

  HONOLULU (March 22, 2025) Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, commander, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) speaks with Lee Zeldin 17th administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, during a site visit to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) in Honolulu, March 22, 2025. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment, and continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
• NCTF-RH Conducts Water Quality Testing:
  

  HONOLULU (April 1, 2025) A Navy contractor tests the chlorine levels in a drinking water sample collected at a military housing residence in Honolulu, April 1, 2025. The samples were taken by the Navy’s Water Quality Action Team at the request of a Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system resident. The ongoing efforts are part of the Navy’s enduring, long-term commitment to ensure the safety of the environment and public health. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
• NCTF-RH Presents at Onizuka Day:
  

  KAPOLEI, Hawaii (April 5, 2025) Tiffany Iiga-Saole, deputy assistant regional engineer, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH), demonstrates ground water flow monitoring at the ninth annual Onizuka Day of Exploration held at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu in Kapolei, Hawaii, April 5, 2025. The local science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event provided an opportunity for the local community to engage with NCTF-RH and CNRH members to learn about NCTF-RH STEM-related operations as part of their mission to safely close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Naadia Puri)
• NCTF-RH Hosts EPA for Facility Response Plan Review:
  

  Members of Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) accompany Environmental Protection Agency inspectors during a review of the Red Hill facility response plan at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) in Honolulu, April 8, 2025. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. NCTF-RH continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Glenn Slaughter)
• NCTF-RH Speaks at Fuel Tank Advisory Committee:
  

  JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (April 9, 2025) Rear Adm. Marc Williams, deputy commander, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH), and Cmdr. Benjamin Dunn, deputy for environment and remediation, NCTF-RH, provide a semi-annual update to the Hawaii Department of Health’s Fuel Tank Advisory Committee virtually from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 9, 2025. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. NCTF-RH continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the facility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Glenn Slaughter)
• NCTF-RH Tests Water from Navy Aiea-Halawa Shaft:
  

  Contractors with Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) collect water samples from the Navy Aiea-Halawa Shaft (NAHS) in Honolulu, April 14, 2025. The water samples were taken as part of a pilot study in preparation for the reactivation of the NAHS. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. NCTF-RH continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the facility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Glenn Slaughter)
• NCTF-RH Welcomes DLNR Chang for Site Visit:
  

  Rear Adm. Marc Williams, deputy commander, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH), speaks with Dawn Chang, chairperson, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, during a site visit to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) in Honolulu, April 21, 2025. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. NCTF-RH continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Glenn Slaughter)
• NCTF-RH Briefs Rep. Case on Closure Progress:
  

  Rear Adm. Marc Williams, center, deputy commander, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH), provides a progress update on the decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) to Rep. Ed Case on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 25, 2025. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the facility, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. NCTF-RH continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Glenn Slaughter)
   
• NCTF-RH Participates in Community Representation Initiative:
  

  Rear Adm. Marc Williams, left, deputy commander, Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH), discusses ongoing Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) decommissioning efforts at the Community Representation Initiative meeting in Honolulu, April 24, 2025. At the meeting, NCTF-RH leadership shared information about ongoing RHBFSF decommissioning efforts and progress with members of the CRI, representatives from Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health, and members of the community. 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. NCTF-RH continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as it safely and deliberately decommissions the facility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Krystal Diaz)
   

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