A project to remove old underground fuel tanks at Halepohaku could begin in January.
The midlevel facility about 9,400 feet up Maunakea currently has three underground fuel storage tanks that together can hold up to 18,000 gallons of gasoline. The tanks were installed in the early 1980s and are currently used to fuel the facility’s backup boiler, fleet of vehicles and other heavy equipment.
However, the three tanks also are single-walled, which makes them less resistant to leaks. Amended regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dictate that any facility using single-walled underground storage tanks installed before 2013 must be upgraded with additional containment systems by 2028.
Consequently, the University of Hawaii’s Center for Maunakea Stewardship — which retains management of the Maunakea Science Reserve, including Halepohaku, until 2028 — is preparing to replace the fuel tanks.
According to project documents presented at a Thursday meeting of the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority — the state agency that will take over management of the summit area in 2028 — work on an environmental assessment could begin by January. The document also lists a proposed completion date of July 2026.
Greg Chun, executive director of the Center for Maunakea Stewardship, told the MKSOA that the tanks will be replaced by two above-ground tanks with a total fuel capacity of about 6,000 gallons. Current fuel usage estimates state that the facility uses between 2,000 gallons and 2,500 gallons of gasoline a month, and an additional 250-500 gallons of diesel fuel a month.
The project has an estimated cost of $1.2 million. Not only will the underground tanks need to be excavated, but their underground delivery system, above-ground pumps and associated electrical systems also will be removed.
Once the tanks are removed, CMS will backfill the excavated area and return it to its original condition. Several monitors will be onsite throughout the project to ensure no archaeological or natural resources are disturbed.
An environmental assessment also must be prepared for the project. Chun said CMS has put out a request for proposal for a consultant that will prepare the assessment and apply for necessary permits.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.