Sierra Club Sues Department of Health Over Underground Storage Tanks

Sierra Club Sues Department of Health Over Underground Storage Tanks

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI (August 22, 2017) -- The Sierra Club sued the Hawaiʻi Department of Health for failing to enact underground storage tank rules to protect Hawaiʻi’s groundwater. A 1992 state law directed the Health Department to enact rules that would require existing underground storage tanks to be upgraded by 1999 to prevent releases of petroleum into the environment. Hawaiʻi’s Department of Health is responsible for regulating underground storage tanks and protecting our drinking water. Their current regulations, however, do not ensure underground storage tanks are properly upgraded. “This lawsuit ensures that the Department of Health improves its regulations and satisfies its obligation to protect the public’s health and our water supplies. Leaking underground storage tanks pose a threat to our groundwater,” said Marti Townsend, Director for the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi. This court case highlights the need to better resource the Department of Health to fulfill its constitutional obligation to protect Hawaiʻi’s drinking water supplies and the public’s health from contamination.The complaint filed in August 17 is available for viewing here.Star Advertiser, August 22, 2017: Sierra Club sues state over leaky Navy fuel tanks