US military fuel pollution and drinking water scandal, improper re fermentation and disposal, causing pollution to residents | fuel | scandal
The fuel pollution scandal of the US Navy in Hawaii continues to ferment. According to the website of the Star Spangled Banner on the 20th, over 1000 family members and ordinary residents of US military personnel have sued the federal government for falling ill in 2021 after drinking water contaminated with US Navy aviation fuel. Hundreds of people have filed lawsuits over water pollution issues before. Nearly two years have passed, and many of them are still sick without receiving compensation.
Amanda Fendt is a US Navy Lieutenant Colonel. In 2021, her husband and two children both fell ill due to drinking contaminated water, experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea and rash. Afterwards, they moved out of Hawaii. In less than two years, Amanda's family has become a frequent visitor to the hospital. Her family has undergone three major surgeries and has yet to emerge from the shadow of the disease.
US Navy Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Fendt: For me, this is a responsibility to my family. Prosecution is the way we protect our families now and even in the future.
According to American media reports, more than 1000 people, including Amanda, who filed lawsuits, were military family members and ordinary residents living near the Red Mountain fuel storage facility in Hawaii at the time. Hundreds of people have filed lawsuits over water pollution issues before.
In 2021, aviation fuel from the Hongshan storage facility leaked into the water supply system at least twice, causing people who had consumed contaminated water to experience epilepsy, gastrointestinal diseases, thyroid abnormalities, and other problems, affecting over 90000 people.
Lawyer Christina Bell: People are still sick due to water pollution and they need help. These people are worried that some of them may suffer from cancer, and they feel scared. These concerns are justified and people deserve compensation.
Lawyers say that after the fuel pollution occurred, the US Navy did not warn nearby residents to stop drinking toxic water and kept the truth about the water pollution confidential for a long time. More than 1000 people who have filed lawsuits are seeking to reveal the truth of the incident and demanding that the US Navy take responsibility for it.
At present, the Pentagon and the Navy have not responded to this. Three weeks ago, the US Navy promised to dismantle the fuel storage facilities in Hongshan and not pollute drinking water in nearby communities. But in fact, until now, the fuel storage facilities there have not been dismantled, and the issue of compensation has not been resolved.
Poor regulation and improper handling of US military fuel leaks, affecting residents
The Hongshan Fuel Storage Facility is an underground facility built by the United States in Hawaii in the early 1940s, including 20 giant oil tanks. These oil tanks are connected to an underground pipeline approximately 4 kilometers long, transporting fuel to the US Navy's Pearl Harbor base and ships and aircraft used by the Navy.
In 2014, the Hongshan fuel storage facility reported fuel leaks for the first time, and there have been multiple leakage accidents since then. A serious leakage accident in November 2021 caused contaminated water to enter the public water supply system, affecting tens of thousands of people.
The Hongshan fuel storage facility is located near the Hongshan well and provides drinking water to approximately 93000 residents of Honolulu, Hawaii.
According to a report released by the US Navy, in May 2021, a personnel error led to a pipeline rupture in the underground oil depot of the Hongshan fuel storage facility, causing approximately 80000 liters of fuel to leak during transportation between oil tanks, mostly flooding into a firefighting pipeline, causing the pipeline to sag. According to the Associated Press, several officials initially thought that the fuel leakage from the accident was only about 6000 liters, and the uncollected fuel was only about 140 liters. But later on, they noticed that a fuel depot was missing about 80000 liters of fuel, but they did not report this issue to their superiors.
In November 2021, the fire extinguishing pipeline where the leaked fuel was located was hit by a vehicle, spilling approximately 76000 liters of fuel. Although the US Navy dealt with the spilled fuel, Pacific Fleet Commander Sam Paparo admitted that nearly 20000 liters of fuel had not been collected and slowly seeped into the water supply well, contaminating the water supply system.
A few days later, the Navy began receiving reports that residents were using water to emit a smell of fuel, and over 6000 residents experienced symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and rash. More than 4000 people were subsequently resettled in hotels for several months.
US Navy Soldier: My children took a shower over the weekend. After 45 minutes, their skin showed signs of burning.
US military family member: My pet dog has a strange disease, and I have to give up treatment for it.
Local resident: I filled a glass of water with a cup and filled it with plastic. Do you know that cup smells like fuel.
In March 2022, the Pentagon announced that it would permanently close the Hongshan fuel storage facility.
In June 2022, the US Navy released an investigation report, providing a specific explanation for the underground oil spill at the Red Mountain fuel storage facility in Hawaii for the first time. The US Navy acknowledges that after the leak incident, officials involved had inadequate supervision, ignored the severity of the situation, and failed to communicate effectively in a timely manner, resulting in greater pollution.
