Navy to start ventilating eighth Red Hill Facility tank; air quality monitoring continues – Maui Now

Report on the Decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Project Overview

The Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) has commenced the ventilation of Tank 20 at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF). This action marks a significant phase in the facility’s comprehensive decommissioning plan, an initiative critical to ensuring environmental safety and public health. The project’s execution directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning clean water, public health, and responsible infrastructure management.

The decommissioning is a multi-stage process designed to permanently and safely close the facility. Tank 20 is the eighth of 14 tanks containing fuel to undergo this process. Six of the facility’s 20 tanks were already out of service prior to the start of defueling operations.

The Decommissioning Process and Environmental Safeguards

The permanent closure of each tank follows a systematic, approved methodology to mitigate environmental and health risks. This process aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by ensuring the sound management of hazardous materials and infrastructure.

1. Defueling: The initial removal of bulk fuel from the tanks.
2. Venting: A degassing phase to safely remove residual volatile organic compounds (VOCs), preparing the tank for internal work.
3. Cleaning: The removal of all remaining sludge and contaminants.
4. Permanent Closure: The final stage of rendering the tank permanently unusable for fuel storage.

The current ventilation of Tank 20, conducted with approval from the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH), involves pushing clean air through the tank to exhaust VOCs through a specialized ventilation system. This procedure is fundamental to creating a safe working environment for subsequent cleaning operations.

Commitment to Public Health and Clean Water (SDGs 3 & 6)

A primary objective of the decommissioning is the protection of the surrounding environment and community, directly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). To uphold these goals, NCTF-RH has implemented a robust air quality monitoring (AQM) program.

• Nine AQM stations are strategically located in and around the RHBFSF to continuously track air quality.
• These stations measure VOC emission levels and collect key atmospheric data, including wind speed, direction, temperature, and humidity.
• The DOH has established a safety limit of 38 parts per million by volume (ppmv) for total VOCs.
• Since degassing operations began, emission readings have averaged 0.045 ppmv, remaining significantly below the regulatory threshold, thereby safeguarding public health and preventing contamination of vital water resources.

Transparency and Sustainable Communities (SDGs 11 & 16)

In alignment with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), NCTF-RH is committed to operational transparency and public accountability. The task force ensures that all air quality data is accessible to the public to foster community trust and awareness.

• AQM data is updated hourly on the NCTF-RH mobile application during active venting operations.
• A daily summary of AQM data is published on the NCTF-RH website.

This commitment to providing timely and accessible information demonstrates accountable governance and contributes to building a safe, resilient, and sustainable community.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article emphasizes monitoring air quality to protect the health of the surrounding community from hazardous emissions during the facility’s decommissioning.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The decommissioning of the Red Hill fuel facility is a direct action to prevent future contamination of the local aquifer, which is a critical source of drinking water, thereby protecting water resources.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The efforts to manage air quality and safely decommission a hazardous industrial facility contribute to creating a safer and more sustainable environment for the local community.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article describes the process of environmentally sound management of hazardous materials (volatile organic compounds) and waste (the decommissioned tanks) to minimize their impact on the environment and human health.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The commitment to making air quality data publicly available through a mobile app and website demonstrates transparency and ensures public access to information, which are characteristics of accountable institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • The article details the “safe and deliberate venting” process and continuous air quality monitoring to ensure emissions from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remain below health-based limits set by the Department of Health, directly aiming to prevent illness from air pollution.
2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
   • The entire “decommissioning process,” including defueling, venting, and permanent closure of the fuel tanks, is a fundamental step to prevent the future release of hazardous chemicals into the ground, thereby protecting the local water supply from contamination.
3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The operation of “Nine air quality monitoring (AQM) stations” and the focus on controlling VOC emissions directly address the goal of managing and improving air quality for the community surrounding the Red Hill facility.
4. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • The article describes a structured process for degassing the tanks, which “eliminates volatile organic compound emissions,” and managing them through a ventilation system. This is a clear example of environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals to prevent their release into the atmosphere.
5. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
   • The article explicitly states that the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill “ensures AQM data is available to the public during and after the degassing phase on the NCTF-RH mobile app and the website,” directly fulfilling the objective of providing public access to environmental information.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 3 & 11 (Air Quality): The article provides a specific, measurable indicator for air quality. It states that emissions are monitored to “remain under the DOH’s limit of 38 parts per million by volume (ppmv) total VOCs.” It further reports that “emission readings have averaged 0.045 ppmv,” which serves as a direct measurement of performance against this indicator.
• For SDG 6 & 12 (Pollution Prevention): The progress of the decommissioning itself is an indicator. The article mentions that Tank 20 is the “eighth tank out of 14 to undergo the ventilation process.” The number of tanks successfully and safely vented, cleaned, and permanently closed serves as a tangible indicator of progress in eliminating a source of potential chemical and water pollution.
• For SDG 16 (Access to Information): The existence and functionality of the public information platforms are direct indicators. The article mentions the “NCTF-RH mobile app” and a specific website where data is updated “hourly” and “daily.” The availability and usage of these tools by the public can be measured to track progress on this target.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mauinow.com