Hawaii fines Navy for unauthorized sewage release

HONOLULU — The Hawaii Division of Well being stated Tuesday it has fined the Navy $8.8 million for repeatedly discharging untreated or partially handled sewage into state waters from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The division stated in a information launch that it recorded 766 counts of the Navy discharging pollution in extra of limits established by a allow.

The pollution had been launched between January 2020 and July 2022 from the Hawaii Wastewater Remedy Plant operated by the Naval Services Engineering Command, the division stated.

The company additionally discovered 212 counts of operation and upkeep failures.

“The Navy’s failure to correctly function and preserve this wastewater therapy plant led to the air pollution of state waters,” stated Kathleen Ho, the division’s deputy director of environmental well being, in a press release. “We’re taking motion to guard our state’s water assets and to carry the Navy accountable to make crucial repairs and stop a possible catastrophic failure of the power.”

Navy Area Hawaii stated the Navy and the U.S. Environmental Safety Company agreed in June 2021 to deal with deficiencies with the therapy plant. The Navy is on monitor to fulfill these obligations, which can additionally deal with among the points identified by Hawaii’s Division of Well being, it stated.

The Navy continues to enhance operations on the plant and it stays operational, it stated.

Individually, the division earlier this 12 months ordered the Navy to close down its Purple Hill Bulk Gas Storage Facility after jet gasoline leaked from a pipe into the Navy’s consuming water at Pearl Harbor. The army has arrange a activity power to empty gasoline from Purple Hill’s large storage tanks by July 2024.