For years, Hawaii’s congressional delegation was not in favor of decommissioning the Red Hill fuel facility. That changed when fuel hit people’s faucets.

The lawmakers told the Navy secretary to “repair your damaged military assets and your damaged relationship with the state of Hawaii.”

Security footage of the leaks that contaminated military families’ drinking water “doesn’t exist,” the congressman said.

As the federal government fights the state’s shutdown order in court, city and state lawmakers are making moves to close the facility through legislation.

It’s the first round of federal funding for the removal of fuel at the World War II-era fuel farm.

Five years ago, the state health department increased the acceptable level of diesel in drinking water. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply says that was a mistake.

The decision to take the state to court sets up a possible showdown over the World War II-era fuel tank farm that is at the center of a water contamination crisis.

Water testing was supposed to detect a disaster before it hit people’s faucets. But thousands of military families in Hawaii never got a warning.

Hawaii officials said they were “very disappointed” by the decision.

DOH says the pumping and filtration plan will help prevent the contamination from spreading further in the aquifer.