Red Hill meeting canceled due to lack of timely notice

An annual meeting called to monitor safety improvements at the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility near Pearl Harbor has been canceled after Hawaii Department of Health officials failed to provide adequate public notice of the meeting in violation of Hawaii’s Sunshine Law, which governs public meeting requirements for government boards and commissions.

The meeting, which had been scheduled for today, is now scheduled for Nov. 1 at the Hawaii State Capitol, according to the state Department of Health.

“There was a mishap on our end and the meeting was posted for five days instead of six,” Janice Okubo, a spokeswoman for the DOH said by email. “Our legal counsel advised us to reschedule.”

Marti Townsend, executive director of the Hawaii Sierra Club, said she had also raised concerns with the DOH about ensuring public testimony is permitted at the meeting, as required by Hawaii’s Sunshine Law.

Military officials are expected to brief the advisory committee formed to monitor safety improvements at the facility about ongoing studies and efforts to improve the safety of its 18 active tanks at Red Hill, which provide fuel for military operations in the Pacific.

The aging condition of the tanks has raised concerns among regulators and state lawmakers that a significant release from one of the tanks could contaminate drinking water supplies.

After 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked from one of the tanks in January 2014, DOH and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brought an enforcement action against the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency to address the fuel release and minimize the possibility of future leaks. As part of the requirements, the Navy is required to conduct various studies and evaluate plans for tank upgrades.

The advisory committee is made up of members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation, state legislators or their designees, Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials and members of the public.