Official announcements or reports from the U.S. Navy

Navy Failed to Grasp Pearl Harbor Fuel Tank Risks, Watchdog Reports

Nov 15, 2024, 08:27 AM

A U.S. military watchdog has reported that Navy officials lacked sufficient understanding of the well-documented risks associated with maintaining massive fuel storage tanks on top of a drinking water well at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Despite numerous studies, the Navy did not fully grasp the dangers, which led to a significant incident in 2021 where spilled jet fuel poisoned more than 6,000 people. The watchdog's findings underscore the critical oversight in managing the fuel tanks, which posed a threat to public health and safety.