Two non-military individuals charged for their involvement in the 2021 Pearl Harbor fuel leak responsible for afflicting over 6,000 individuals with illness.

In May 2021, a significant fuel spill occurred at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Pearl Harbor. John Floyd, the Fuels Department deputy director, and Nelson Wu, the Fuels Department supervisory engineer, were allegedly responsible for providing the Navy with inaccurate information about the incident. This misleading information caused the Navy to mislead the Hawaii Department of Health regarding the extent of the leak.

The military's investigation revealed that officials were aware that approximately 20,000 gallons of fuel were unaccounted for following the incident, yet they failed to inform the community or regulators. This omission led to the seepage of fuel into drinking water, causing a health crisis. Over 6,000 people fell ill during Thanksgiving 2021 as a result of the contaminated water.

The Navy maintained that the island's water was safe despite the fuel leaks at Red Hill. However, the Defense Department's inspector general found that Navy officials lacked a sufficient understanding of the risks associated with maintaining massive fuel storage tanks on top of a Pearl Harbor drinking water well.

The military decided to close the aging World War II-era fuel tanks following the spill. The Sierra Club of Hawaii and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply had previously urged the military to move the tanks to a location where they wouldn't pose a threat to Oahu's water, but their requests were denied.

The fuel spill angered Hawaii residents, lawmakers, and military service members and their families. The incident led to legal consequences for Floyd and Wu, who were indicted on one count of conspiracy and one count of making false statements. The federal public defender's office representing Floyd and Wu's attorney did not provide comments when approached for this article.

Whistleblower allegations surfaced, claiming that the Navy sidelined individuals who raised concerns about the mismanagement of Red Hill. Wayne Tanaka, the director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, stated that culpability extended beyond the alleged actions of Floyd and Wu.

It is important to note that, according to available information, John Floyd is not represented by any organization in court proceedings. He is mentioned as the chairman of Christie's, but there is no indication he is represented by or represents any organization in legal matters regarding the Red Hill fuel spill.

The ruptured pipe that caused the fuel spill occurred on May 6, 2021. Crews believed they had mopped up most of the fuel, but some flowed into a drain and drinking water well that supplied water to 90,000 people at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Despite the contamination, the Navy issued written reprimands to three retired military officers for their roles in the fuel spill.

Fuel leaks at Red Hill had occurred before, including in 2014. The ongoing issue highlights the need for improved management and safety measures at the facility to prevent future incidents and protect the health and wellbeing of the community.