HONOLULU (AP) – A grand jury in Hawaii has indicted two civilian workers for allegedly providing the U.S. Navy with false information regarding a jet fuel spill from a storage facility at Pearl Harbor. This spill, which occurred in May 2021, subsequently tainted the local drinking water and resulted in the illness of approximately 6,000 individuals during the Thanksgiving period in 2021.
The indictments of John Floyd and Nelson Wu mark the first legal repercussions stemming from the fuel spill that spurred widespread anger among Hawaii residents, lawmakers, and military families. The incident led the Navy to decide to shut down the aging World War II-era fuel tanks, reflecting heightened concerns over environmental safety and public health.
A Navy investigation conducted in 2022 revealed that poor management and human error were primary factors contributing to the leak at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Additionally, the Defense Department's inspector general found that Navy officials did not possess adequate insight into the risks involved in maintaining large fuel storage tanks situated above a crucial drinking water well in Pearl Harbor. Three retired military officers received written reprimands for their involvement in the mismanagement that led to the spill.
According to the indictment returned on Thursday, Floyd and Wu are accused of providing the Navy with inaccurate data regarding the extent of the fuel leak from May 2021. The charges assert that they misled the Navy into reporting to the Hawaii Department of Health that only 1,618 gallons (6,125 liters) had leaked, rather than the actual figure of 20,000 gallons (75,700 liters). Further, they failed to report that approximately 18,000 gallons (68,000 liters) of fuel was still unaccounted for. Prosecutors allege that Floyd and Wu intentionally redacted critical information from the records submitted to the Navy.
Floyd and Wu have each been indicted on one count of conspiracy and one count of making false statements. Responses from their legal representatives have been limited, with Floyd's public defender’s office not responding to requests for comment, and Wu's attorney, Alen Kaneshiro, stating he has no comment at this time.
The Navy's internal investigation revealed that the fuel leak began on May 6, 2021, when fuel gushed from a ruptured pipe. Most of the leaked fuel flowed into a fire suppression drain system, where it remained undetected for six months. The situation worsened when a cart struck a sagging line containing the fuel, which ultimately allowed the contamination to enter a drain and subsequently flow into a drinking water well serving around 90,000 people at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
This was not the first incident of fuel contamination at Red Hill; in fact, previous leaks had been documented, including a notable case in 2014. These recurrent issues prompted organizations such as the Sierra Club of Hawaii and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to advocate for relocating the tanks to prevent future threats to Oahu’s water supply. However, the Navy has resisted these calls, maintaining that the island’s water remains safe.
As the case unfolds, the implications surrounding environmental management, public health safety, and accountability in military operations are likely to remain at the forefront of discussions in Hawaii.
