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NCTF-RH Conducts Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise

by Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill Public Affairs
27 February 2024
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI -- Experts who participated were NCTF-RH, Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH), the Environmental Protection Agency, Hawaii Department of Health, Navy Region Hawaii, Federal Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and various contractors supporting the closure efforts.

“Spill Drills are essential in our efforts to protect human health, safety and the environment. These drills help to identify potential issues, so we can devise and implement processes to help avoid or minimize the impacts of a spill,” said Melani Tescher, NCTF-RH Environmental Operations Lead. “These events also help create a cohesive team by identifying the roles and responsibilities that every stakeholder, to include the regulators, needs to understand and perform if a spill were to happen.”

Mel Tescher, Environmental Operations Lead, Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), speaks during a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by NCTF-RH, rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
Mel Tescher, Environmental Operations Lead, Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), speaks during a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by NCTF-RH, rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
Mel Tescher, Environmental Operations Lead, Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), speaks during a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by NCTF-RH, rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
240222-N-MK588-1051
Mel Tescher, Environmental Operations Lead, Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), speaks during a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by NCTF-RH, rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
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Photo By: Seaman Krystal Diaz
VIRIN: 240222-N-MK588-1051


The tabletop exercise is the first rehearsal for a full-scale fuel spill drill which will be held in the coming weeks in preparation for NCTF-RH to take full operational control of the RHBFSF.

“Events like these are a critical piece of the transition from the JTF to NCTF,” said Tescher. “We can pick up where they will leave off in regard to safety and security during the closure process”.

NCTF-RH is committed to working with all government agencies and community stakeholders to safely and deliberately close the RHBFSF underground storage tanks and associated pipelines, conduct long-term environmental remediation, and ensure continued access to safe drinking water in compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws, policies and regulations.

Experts from various organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health, participate in a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
Experts from various organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health, participate in a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
Experts from various organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health, participate in a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. Charged with the safe decommissioning of the RHBFSF, NCTF-RH was established by the Department of the Navy as a commitment to the community and the environment. The Navy continues to engage with the people of Hawaii, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as NCTF-RH works to safely and deliberately decommission the RHBFSF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
240222-N-MK588-1038
Experts from various organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health, participate in a Spill Drill Tabletop Exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 22. The exercise, run by Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill (NCTF-RH), rehearsed roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the event of a potential spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and is a key milestone in the transition of efforts from Joint Task Force-Red Hill. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Krystal Diaz)
Download Image
Image Details
Photo By: Seaman Krystal Diaz
VIRIN: 240222-N-MK588-1038


For more information about NCTF-RH, visit www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil.