Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command - Hawaii
Environmental Restoration, Navy (ER,N) Program at Red Hill

Former OWDF Site Investigation

Aerial picture of the Oily Waste Disposal Facility.
Bird’s eye view of the former Oily Waste Disposal Facility (OWDF) (2023)
Sampling equipment used during collection of a groundwater sample [from a Former OWDF monitoring well]
Groundwater monitoring and sampling at the Former OWDF (2023)
Drillers installing a groundwater monitoring well at the Former OWDF in 1991
Installing a groundwater monitoring well at the Former OWDF (1996)
Hydroseeding equipment being used at the restored excavation area after backfilling with clean soil
Hydroseeding the restored area (1995)
A technician installing an impermeable geomembrane cap over the backfilled area to prevent further water infiltration
Installation of the protective cap (1995)
Excavating equipment digging up petroleum-contaminated soil during the Removal Action at the Former OWDF (1995)
Preparation of the subsurface for installation of the protective cap (1995)
Excavating equipment digging up petroleum-contaminated soil during the Removal Action at the Former OWDF in 1995
Excavation equipment digging up petroleum-contaminated soil during the Removal Action at the Former OWDF (1995)

Located in the southwest portion of the Red Hill Facility, the Former Oily Waste Disposal Facility (OWDF) was previously used to manage fuel-tank bottom sludges and residues in a disposal pit and stilling basin. The Former OWDF ceased operation in 1986. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Navy conducted a two-phase Remedial Investigation (RI) and a Removal Action (pictured), which removed the former system and impacted soil for offsite treatment and backfilling. A composite clay liner with geotextile and asphaltic cap was installed over the backfilled pit and basin area to ensure long-term protectiveness of the subsurface environment. After completion of the RI, the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) determined that No Further Action (NFA) was required at the Former OWDF. After the NFA, the Navy retained one of the OWDF monitoring wells and incorporated it into the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility groundwater monitoring program and continued to sample the well from 2009 onward.

The Navy proactively initiated this Site Investigation after total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were detected in some of the OWDF groundwater samples collected between 2010 and 2016.  The goal of this Site Investigation is to evaluate potential sources of the TPH and investigate potential impacts to the deep (basal) groundwater aquifer beneath the site. The Site Investigation included installing a network of seven clusters of shallow (perched) and deep monitoring wells in 2021 and conducting a 2-year quarterly groundwater monitoring program and a 1-year groundwater elevation transducer study. The Navy has shared the data collected from these activities with the regulatory agencies, which led DOH to rescind the NFA in 2024. This website provides links to the data and reports being generated during the OWDF Site Investigation and will be updated on an ongoing basis.

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Location of the Former OWDF

Former OWDF Timeline (Click to Expand)

Operation of the OWDF
(1942-1986)
Initial OWDF Investigations
(1983-2005)
Red Hill Facility Groundwater Protection Plan Sampling Of OWDFMW01
(2009-Ongoing)
Current OWDF Site Investigation
(2016-Ongoing)
Future Activities

Data and Reports of Current Activities

Analytical Data

Summary of Site Investigation Quarterly Groundwater Monitoring Data (March 2022 – February 2024)
Laboratory Data Validation Reports of Site Investigation Quarterly Groundwater Monitoring Data

Reports

Fact Sheet No. 1: Summary of Site Investigation Quarterly Groundwater Monitoring Data (April 2025)
Former OWDF Site Assessment Work Plan (February 2021)
Technical Memorandum (October 2019)

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