Navy says Red Hill defueling complete; tank cleaning, pipeline removal and long‑term site assessment continue

Navy representatives told the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee on Oct. 1 that defueling at the Red Hill bulk fuel facility is complete and that work has moved into tank cleaning, pipeline removal and a multi‑phase environmental site assessment.

Rear Admiral Mark Williams, speaking for the Navy, said, "we are on plan to close and decommission the bulk fuel storage facility, per the regulatory agencies' approved plans and schedules." Commander Ben Dunn, deputy for environment and remediation, described a multi‑step tank cleaning protocol that includes preparation, degassing, center‑tower and catwalk repairs, pressure washing and third‑party wipe verification.

What the Navy reported: The Navy said eight tanks are in cleaning or preparation stages. Pressure washing is complete on some tanks; others are being prepped for degassing, which the Navy expects to begin in the weeks ahead. A cloth‑wipe test has been used to evaluate interior tank cleanliness; where wipes show visible residue, officials plan more detailed wipe sampling with solvent‑soaked wipes evaluated by ASTM methods for extractable petroleum…