Oahu Sugar

Hazardous Waste Site | Hawaii | 1947-1995

What Happened?

The Oahu Sugar Company Ltd. operated sugar cane fields and associated facilities on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and leased land at Pearl Harbor from the United States Department of Defense and Department of Navy from roughly 1947-1995.

Over the years, these activities at the site, including storage, mixing, and loading of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, resulted in the release of hazardous substances in the environment.

In 1997 the Hawaii Department of Health conducted surface soil sampling at the former pesticide/herbicide mixing plants. The sampling results indicated high concentrations of pentachlorophenol (PCP), and dioxin. In 2002 and 2009 the Environmental Protection Agency issued an Unilateral Administrative Order to investigate contamination at the site.

What Were the Impacts?

Historic releases of hazardous substances at the site, including dioxin and PCP, resulted in injuries to natural resources and their services including plants and other habitats at the Oahu Sugar site.

What's Happening Now?

On April 23rd, 2021 a Consent Decree announcing a settlement that includes $2.5M to restore natural resources injured by releases of hazardous substances. The settlement also includes $5M to be paid to the United States Navy for cleanup and response costs.

The Trustees will use this settlement to develop restoration projects that compensate for natural resource injuries and benefit habitats impacted by pollution.

On January 13, 2025, the Oahu Sugar Trustee Council announced the release of two Restoration Plans/Environmental Assessments (RP/EAs) for the Site. Concurrent with the NOAA Plan, the U.S. FWS released a plan that is proposing additional restoration projects to restore terrestrial natural resources, including migratory bird and endangered species habitat.

Public Meeting and Comment Period

NOAA will be holding an in-person Public Meeting as an open house format on January 29, 2025 to share the details of the proposed project. There will be two time windows to attend the in-person Public Meeting Open House–from 11am-2pm (HST) and 5-8pm (HST).