Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, introduced bipartisan legislation to study the long-term health effects of the Red Hill water contamination crisis, according to a news release. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii co-sponsored the bill. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Red Hill Health Impact Act would create a registry to track and collect health data from people exposed to the Red Hill fuel leak

  • The legislation would require the Department of Health and Human Services to work with health experts to conduct a 20-year study

  • The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to work with the state and federal agencies to help identify additional resources for people affected by the crisis

  • Sen. Brian Schatz said the study would help doctors, public health experts and people affected by the leak have a better understanding of what exposure to fuel can do

The Red Hill Health Impact Act would create a registry to track and collect health data from people exposed to the Red Hill fuel leak. The legislation would require the Department of Health and Human Services to work with health experts to conduct a 20-year study to assess the health effects of those exposed to fuel during the water contamination. Also, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to work with the state and federal agencies to help identify additional resources for people affected by the crisis. 

Schatz said the study would help doctors, public health experts and people affected by the leak have a better understanding of what exposure to fuel can do.

“People who were exposed to toxic fuel from this leak should know what kind of impact that might have on their long-term health and what kind of additional federal help they can get,” said Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, in the news release. 

Last year, the National Defense Authorization Act included a directive initiated by Case to have the Department of Defense, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hawaii State Department of Health, track the long-term health effects of the Red Hill fuel leaks.  

“This measure further expands our efforts to ensure that these health concerns will continue to be monitored and addressed beyond the immediate crisis so that we can fully understand and remedy any and all impacts,” said Case. 

As early as Nov. 25, 2021, residents at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the surrounding area reported smelling fuel and seeing sheens, foam and emulsions coming from the tap water. People experienced symptoms ranging from rashes, headaches, vertigo, coughs, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, convulsions and partial paralysis. It was later revealed that fuel spilled on Nov. 20, 2021, at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and entered Oahu's groundwater, impacting 93,000 people that use the Navy's water system. 

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