Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Fuel Leaks In Red Hill Well - Studies/Assessments (Department of the Navy, Office of Inspector General)

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=DON-NAVY-2022-002247&type=request)

* Tracking Number: DON-NAVY-2022-002247
* Requester Name:
Kevin Gosztola
* Date Submitted: 12/08/2021
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following—

Any completed or official assessments, findings, investigations, or studies involving Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and contamination of the Red Hill well in Oahu as well as threats of pollution to the Halawa shaft. Such assessments, findings, investigation, or studies may have been completed between the time period of January 1, 2011, and November 1, 2021, and involve petroleum or fuel leaks.

Upon information and belief, assessments, findings, investigations, or studies may have been in response to citations by the Hawaii Department of Health for violations related to operation and maintenance of the facility. They could involve plans to prevent fines and violations stemming from routine inspections and may also be a response to Notices of Violation and Order, or NOVOs, involving the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF).

On December 5, 2021, CNN reported, "Records show a history of fuel leaks plaguing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in the past decade, with the most recent leak occurring 11 days before the Navy announced it had discovered contamination in the Red Hill well on Oahu." (The media organization was referring to a leak in late November when they mentioned the "most recent leak.")

"The deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Rear Adm. Blake Converse, confirmed a petroleum leak is the cause of the latest breach," according to the CNN report.

In October 2021, the Hawaii Department of Health released a copy of a NOVO from the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch. It listed violations that stemmed from failures and mismanagement at the underground storage tank system located at Red Hill/Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu. This is also referred to as the fuel storage facility.

The Hawaii Department of Health previously responded to fuel contamination in January 2014. According to CNN, "During the refueling of a tank, the Navy identified an estimated fuel release of up to 27,000 gallons of JP-8 jet fuel."

"U.S. Navy subsequently drained the tank and collected samples from existing monitoring wells. Results taken in and around Tank 5 indicated increases of hydrocarbons in soil vapor and groundwater," the Hawaii Health Department stated.

As a professional reporter who has a track record of coverage of the United States Defense Department and its military branches, I assert that I should be designated as a media requester for the purpose of assessing fees.

Given the amount of public interest from news media including ABC News, the Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Honolulu Civil Beat, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Stars and Stripes, etc, I additionally ask that any and all fees be waived. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of any and all charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically and by email attachment if available.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as required by the statute.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gosztola

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=DON-NAVY-2022-002316&type=request)

* Tracking Number: DON-NAVY-2022-002316
* Requester Name:
Kevin Gosztola
* Date Submitted: 12/10/2021
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following—

Any completed or official assessments, findings, investigations, or studies involving Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and contamination of the Red Hill well in Oahu as well as threats of pollution to the Halawa shaft. Such assessments, findings, investigation, or studies may have been completed between the time period of January 1, 2011, and November 1, 2021, and involve petroleum or fuel leaks.

Upon information and belief, assessments, findings, investigations, or studies may have been in response to citations by the Hawaii Department of Health for violations related to operation and maintenance of the facility. They could involve plans to prevent fines and violations stemming from routine inspections and may also be a response to Notices of Violation and Order, or NOVOs, involving the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF).

On December 5, 2021, CNN reported, "Records show a history of fuel leaks plaguing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in the past decade, with the most recent leak occurring 11 days before the Navy announced it had discovered contamination in the Red Hill well on Oahu." (The media organization was referring to a leak in late November when they mentioned the "most recent leak.")

"The deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Rear Adm. Blake Converse, confirmed a petroleum leak is the cause of the latest breach," according to the CNN report.

In October 2021, the Hawaii Department of Health released a copy of a NOVO from the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch. It listed violations that stemmed from failures and mismanagement at the underground storage tank system located at Red Hill/Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu. This is also referred to as the fuel storage facility.

The Hawaii Department of Health previously responded to fuel contamination in January 2014. According to CNN, "During the refueling of a tank, the Navy identified an estimated fuel release of up to 27,000 gallons of JP-8 jet fuel."

"U.S. Navy subsequently drained the tank and collected samples from existing monitoring wells. Results taken in and around Tank 5 indicated increases of hydrocarbons in soil vapor and groundwater," the Hawaii Health Department stated.

As a professional reporter who has a track record of coverage of the United States Defense Department and its military branches, I assert that I should be designated as a media requester for the purpose of assessing fees.

Given the amount of public interest from news media including ABC News, the Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Honolulu Civil Beat, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Stars and Stripes, etc, I additionally ask that any and all fees be waived. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of any and all charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically and by email attachment if available.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as required by the statute.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gosztola

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request DON-NAVY-2022-002316 has been
fully granted.


* Fee Waiver Original Justification:
As a professional reporter who has a track record of coverage of the United States Defense Department and its military branches, I assert that I should be designated as a media requester for the purpose of assessing fees. Given the amount of public interest from news media including ABC News, the Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Honolulu Civil Beat, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Stars and Stripes, etc, I additionally ask that any and all fees be waived. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of any and all charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically and by email attachment if available.
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason:
N/A

Please see attached.

Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request DON-NAVY-2022-002247 has been
fully granted.
Additional details for this request are as follows:

* Request Created on:
12/08/2021
* Request Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following—

Any completed or official assessments, findings, investigations, or studies involving Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and contamination of the Red Hill well in Oahu as well as threats of pollution to the Halawa shaft. Such assessments, findings, investigation, or studies may have been completed between the time period of January 1, 2011, and November 1, 2021, and involve petroleum or fuel leaks.

Upon information and belief, assessments, findings, investigations, or studies may have been in response to citations by the Hawaii Department of Health for violations related to operation and maintenance of the facility. They could involve plans to prevent fines and violations stemming from routine inspections and may also be a response to Notices of Violation and Order, or NOVOs, involving the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF).

On December 5, 2021, CNN reported, "Records show a history of fuel leaks plaguing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in the past decade, with the most recent leak occurring 11 days before the Navy announced it had discovered contamination in the Red Hill well on Oahu." (The media organization was referring to a leak in late November when they mentioned the "most recent leak.")

"The deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Rear Adm. Blake Converse, confirmed a petroleum leak is the cause of the latest breach," according to the CNN report.

In October 2021, the Hawaii Department of Health released a copy of a NOVO from the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch. It listed violations that stemmed from failures and mismanagement at the underground storage tank system located at Red Hill/Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu. This is also referred to as the fuel storage facility.

The Hawaii Department of Health previously responded to fuel contamination in January 2014. According to CNN, "During the refueling of a tank, the Navy identified an estimated fuel release of up to 27,000 gallons of JP-8 jet fuel."

"U.S. Navy subsequently drained the tank and collected samples from existing monitoring wells. Results taken in and around Tank 5 indicated increases of hydrocarbons in soil vapor and groundwater," the Hawaii Health Department stated.

As a professional reporter who has a track record of coverage of the United States Defense Department and its military branches, I assert that I should be designated as a media requester for the purpose of assessing fees.

Given the amount of public interest from news media including ABC News, the Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Honolulu Civil Beat, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Stars and Stripes, etc, I additionally ask that any and all fees be waived. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of any and all charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically and by email attachment if available.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as required by the statute.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gosztola

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
* Fee Waiver Original Justification:
As a professional reporter who has a track record of coverage of the United States Defense Department and its military branches, I assert that I should be designated as a media requester for the purpose of assessing fees.

Given the amount of public interest from news media including ABC News, the Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Honolulu Civil Beat, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Stars and Stripes, etc, I additionally ask that any and all fees be waived. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of any and all charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically and by email attachment if available.
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason:
N/A

Please see attched regarding your request DON-NAVY-2022-00247