Leak in November had contaminated local drinking water.
In December, the state of Hawaii issued an order for the U.S. Navy to immediately drain underground fuel tanks at the Red Hill Storage Facility. The fuel tanks had leaked into the local drinking water supply, causing 93,000 people to get sick.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said earlier last week that the Pentagon would file an appeal against the state order instead of draining the tanks. An appeal was filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu on Wednesday to stop the order. At issue is whether or not the Red Hill facility itself presents an “imminent peril,” since the emergency situation in November was resolved.
Kathleen Ho, Hawaii’s deputy director of environmental health stated the appeal of “the emergency order is yet another breach of trust between the Navy and the people of Hawai’i.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Pentagon officials as they appeal the state of Hawaii’s order.
- For wisdom for the judge who is considering the appeal.
- For the government leaders of Hawaii as they seek to keep residents safe.
Sources: The Hill, Navy Times
