{"id":96047,"date":"2022-01-11T23:24:46","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T23:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smg.go-vip.net\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/11\/navy-cites-operator-error-in-fuel-spill-linked-to-families-tainted-water\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:44:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:44:44","slug":"navy-cites-operator-error-in-fuel-spill-linked-to-families-tainted-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2022\/01\/11\/navy-cites-operator-error-in-fuel-spill-linked-to-families-tainted-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy cites \u2018operator error\u2019 in fuel spill linked to families\u2019 tainted water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The November Navy fuel spill linked to the water contamination<\/a> affecting thousands of military families in Hawaii was likely the result of \u201coperator error,\u201d a Navy official told lawmakers Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy will also comply with the Hawaii Department of Health\u2019s emergency order<\/a> to drain the fuel tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, which is at the center of the water crisis, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crisis has affected more than 9,000 Navy, Army and Air Force households at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Army\u2019s Aliamanu Military Reservation and Red Hill communities, which are on the Navy water system, said Vice Adm. Yancy Lindsey, commander of Navy Installations Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Navy caused this problem. We own it, and we\u2019re going to fix it,\u201d said Rear Adm. Blake Converse, deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet in his testimony before the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee. He said he is \u201ckeenly aware\u201d of how this has affected military families<\/a> and the people of Hawaii. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201crunning tally is well over $250 million\u201d for expenses incurred by the Navy as a result of the fuel spill, including lodging, water, laundry and shower facilities and other services for families, filtration systems and other costs related to the water system cleanup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials are continuing their investigation into the cause of the Nov. 20 spill, but they\u2019re also investigating whether that incident is linked to a May 6 fuel spill at the same location<\/a>, which was also the result of operator error, Converse said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a hearing that lasted more than two hours, lawmakers pressed Navy officials about their initial response to residents\u2019 complaints about fuel odors in their tap water, the assistance provided to those residents, the clean-up plans and their short- and long-term plans to address the root of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s absolutely no doubt this is a very serious crisis. The impact on the families is extraordinary,\u201d said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., chairman of the readiness panel. \u201cIt\u2019s also a repeat of previous problems at Red Hill. I am determined that the Navy be held accountable for what has happened, and that they move expeditiously to resolve and avoid any future problems.\u201d He said he intends for the issue to be taken up in the fiscal 2023 national defense policy legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Nov. 28, residents on the Navy\u2019s water system began reporting concerns about oil products in their water<\/a>. Although there were conflicting reports initially, the Navy confirmed Dec. 3 that petroleum had been found in the water. Hawaii\u2019s Department of Health had immediately warned residents to stop drinking the water, and the Army had warned its residents in two communities served by the Navy\u2019s water system to stop drinking the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questioned about why the Navy was slower than the Army in warning its residents not to drink the water, Converse said that in response to the initial reports Nov. 28, the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam commander sent out teams to each one of those sites to check on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen, unfortunately at some point, with a small amount of information and not the full scope of an understanding of the impact, he determined that the majority of the distribution system was safe and that it was impacting only a small number of residents, and he made that statement that evening,\u201d Converse said. \u201cThat was incorrect. He subsequently formally apologized<\/a> for that assessment he made on the ground based on the limited amount of information he had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day, Converse was directed to assemble and lead a joint crisis action team, working directly with the Hawaii Department of Health and others. \u201cThat evening we put out public health guidance that was aligned with the Department of Health. \u2026 We were all working to get the information out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWere there miscues in communication? Yes. Was it impactful to our residents? Yes. \u2026 It was based on poor information and frankly, poor judgment,\u201d Converse said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t