2024 Ends with Community Power: CRI, EPA and BWS Take Action on Red Hill
By Madi Owens, Red Hill Organizer, Wayne Tanaka, Chapter Director, and Rosalie Luo, Volunteer | Reading time: 5 minutes
In this month’s update, we reflect on key developments at the end of 2024, including the December 12 CRI meeting and the EPA subsequently fining the Navy $5,000 for its absence. Will this be a symbolic moral victory, or a sign of greater accountability and justice in 2025? As we have seen throughout this crisis, community pressure may make all the difference.
Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill Swarm Team & Board of Water Supply Discussion
On December 10th, 2024, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) and the Navy convened for a discussion regarding the SWARM Team’s technical memorandum, which was released in April 2024. Attendees included representatives from the Navy, Army, Hawai‘i Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, University of Hawai‘i, and BWS, along with its independent consultants.
This meeting followed up on earlier critiques presented at the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee (FTAC) meeting held on October 9, 2024. During that meeting, two independent lab-testing consultants hired by the BWS challenged the Navy’s conclusion in its technical memorandum. These consultants raised significant concerns about the accuracy and transparency of the Navy’s Drinking Water Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) and Extended Drinking Water Monitoring (EDWM), as well as the SWARM Team’s assertion that elevated total petroleum hydrocarbon levels detected in drinking water samples were false positives.
While Navy representatives narrowly focused on trying to refute the BWS’ consultants’ refutation of their SWARM team conclusions, the discussion provided little insight on the cause of the numerous and continual reports on smells and sheens in Navy tap water, and symptoms associated with tap water exposure - or what else the Navy, EPA, and Hawaiʻi Department of Health are planning to do, to identify possible contaminants in the Navy’s water system.
You can watch the recording of the meeting (linked here) or view the transcript (linked here).
Community Representation Initiative
Youth-led lemonade stand. Photo: Wayne Tanaka
The 15th Community Representation Initiative (CRI) meeting took place on Dec 12th. This meeting was the first to be facilitated by EPA representatives, under “ground rules” that would, among other provisions, allow the Navy to unilaterally determine what may be included on the CRI agenda, and what questions merit responses.
Unfortunately, the Navy’s last minute decision to skip yet another meeting, despite the imposition of these ground rules, meant that attendees and viewers were once again deprived of the opportunity to hear direct responses from the Navy to their questions and concerns. In addition, the voices of Hawaiʻi youth organizers, along with the demands of dozens of community organizations, all calling for greater transparency and meaningful dialogue from the Navy fell on absent ears.
Notably, in spite of the original requirements of the 2023 Red Hill Administrative Consent Order (ACO), Navy and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) representatives have only attended two CRI meetings in all of 2024. Until November, the ACO required the Navy and DLA to be present at at least two meetings per quarter. These entities have not been to a CRI meeting since March, although they finally promised to attend the December meeting in exchange for ACO amendments incorporating the new CRI ground rules.
Youth-led lemonade stand. Photo: Wayne Tanaka
In anticipation of the Navy’s long-awaited appearance, youth water advocates organized a lemonade stand outside the meeting – offering free lemonade “while our water is still safe” – and planned to formally present the Navy representatives with copies of a joint letter signed by 57 community organizations. The letter urged the federal entities to comply with the terms of the original ACO, and rescind recent ACO amendments incorporating the “ground rules” that give the Navy and DLA veto power over CRI discussion items, reduce their attendance requirements to from twice a quarter to once every three months, and limit public testimony to thirty minutes per meeting. With Navy and DLA representatives absent, the letter was instead delivered to the CRI members and EPA staff.
“The Red Hill CRI established itself as the leading, trusted voice of the Hawaiʻi community, willing to raise our most pressing questions and concerns about our water crisis no matter how inconvenient the Navy may find them,” said Wayne Tanaka, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi director. “Now the Navy is strong-arming the EPA to give them even more power over the CRI and effectively silence their and the community’s voice – and the EPA has given in.”
At the meeting, EPA Region IX Regional Director Martha Guzman announced that she would not reconsider the new ACO amendments.
“We are sorely disappointed that the Navy was a no-show yet again,” said Kaheleikeao Jamile, a Native Hawaiian youth organizer at Thursday’s meeting. “This is our home. This is our future. Why can’t the Navy face us? Why are they afraid of keiki [children] and kūpuna [elders] and mākuahine [mothers] who just want answers, to be heard? All we are asking is that they stop ignoring us like they ignored us for years before our aquifer was poisoned.”
After the December 12th CRI meeting, the EPA fined the Navy and DLA $5,000 for their absence pursuant to the “stipulated penalties” in the ACO. While seen by some as a symbolic victory for the community, the minuscule fine - after nearly a year of noncompliance - emphasizes the continued importance of the community’s vital role in holding the Navy accountable, fighting for the truth, and demanding information.
Wayne Tanaka reflected, “While some action is better than nothing at all, I hope the EPA realizes its own limitations and the need to listen to the community. In the meantime, we simply cannot trust the Navy or federal agencies to keep their promises on their own. Citizen watchdogs and advocacy will continue to be essential for accountability in the years ahead.”
Take Action: To help restore the CRI’s voice, please sign this petition and share it with your friends and network.
Upcoming Meeting: The next CRI meeting is scheduled for January 23rd, with the location to be announced. Follow CRI’s updates on Instagram or on their website for details.
Our Blue World and Hawaiʻi Water Code Film Screenings Featuring Ernie Lau and Amanda
On December 14th, 350 Hawaiʻi and GreenPeace Hawaiʻi, in partnership with the Church of the Crossroads, Interfaith Power & Light, the Environmental Justice Club at UH Mānoa, and the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, hosted a screening of “Our Blue World,” a feature-length documentary featuring water protectors and advocates around the planet, and Hawaiʻi Water Code, a short film highlighting Governor Green’s likely unlawful manipulation of the Water Commission nomination process for the designated “loea,” or Hawaiian cultural expert, seat on the Commission.
Well over a hundred attendees were able to enjoy a delicious meal prepared by chef Kathy Maddux and her team of volunteers, before witnessing the films’ messages of hope and the need for action to ensure the protection and just management of our most precious resource. They also enjoyed a hula performance by kumu hula Cheryl Hi‘ipoikealohaokalaniki‘eki‘e Ho and her ‘ohana.
The evening ended with a panel featuring BWS Chief Engineer Ernie Lau, Hawai‘i Water Code filmmaker Amanda Leipuanani Robson, and Sierra Club director Wayne Tanaka, reflecting on the films’ messages and on the need for community engagement on pressing issues concerning our wai. Ernie emphasized the need to “stay on top” of Red Hill, and to oppose the siting of a new landfill above our drinking water aquifer, as recently proposed by the Honolulu mayor. Amanda highlighted the need to oppose the Governor’s manipulation of the water commission nomination process and rejection of highly qualified candidates for the loea seat at the behest of developers, including by sharing the films and petition on the hawaiiwatercodefilm.com website.
Many thanks to Sherry Pollack of 350Hawaiʻi and Dave Mulinix with Greenpeace Hawaiʻi for organizing this evening of knowledge sharing, fellowship, and community-building, and to the Church of the Crossroads as well as the many volunteers and groups that made this such a successful event!
U.S. Navy Announces Availability of Hawaii-California Training
The U.S. Navy has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) for the Hawaiʻi-California Training and Testing (HCTT) activities. This document evaluates the potential environmental effects of proposed at-sea training and testing, as well as range modernization and sustainment within the HCTT Study Area. For more information, to access the Draft EIS/OEIS, and to submit comments electronically, visit the project website here.
The Navy has scheduled public meetings in January 2025 to discuss the Draft EIS/OEIS and gather public input. These sessions will also address compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, focusing on potential impacts to historic properties. The public is encouraged to review the Draft EIS/OEIS and provide comments on the proposed actions and environmental analyses. You can find a map of the Hawaiʻi Study Area here, as well as detailed maps for Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.
A virtual open house is available here, alongside the Navy’s fact sheet. An in-person meeting will be held on January 15, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. HST at Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial, Weinberg Hall, 2685 N Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI. For Kauaʻi residents, they will be hosting another on January 16, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. HST at Kauaʻi Veterans Center, 3215 Kauaʻi Veterans Memorial Highway, Līhuʻe, HI. One virtual public meeting will be held on January 22, 2025, from 3 to 4 p.m. HST/5 to 6 p.m. PST/8 to 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Residents can submit written or verbal comments at any of the in-person public meetings. They can also fill out the online comment form, or mail your comments to:
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific
Attention: HCTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134
Comments must be postmarked or received online no later than 11:59 p.m. HST on Feb. 11, 2025, for consideration.