The Hawaii Department of Health has ordered the Navy to suspend operations and empty the underground tanks at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, putting the U.S. military at odds with state and local officials. Constructed in the early 1940s in a volcanic ridge near Pearl Habor, the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility plays a crucial role in maintaining the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Consisting of 20 steel-lined tanks encased in concrete and built into cavities inside Red Hill, the complex can store up to 250 million gallons of fuel. The Navy announced Nov. 21 that some 14,000 gallons of water and fuel mixture had leaked from the facility the weekend prior. At the time, officials insisted the drinking water was safe and the problem under control. But on Nov. 30 the Navy said it was investigating reports of chemical odor in the water from nearby residents. On Dec. …