HomeMy WebLinkAboutNews-Release-Navy-Pledges-an-Additional-27-Million-to-City-of-TustinCity of Tustin PIO: Stephanie Najera
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Navy Pledges Additional $27 Million to Help Reimburse City of Tustin for
Navy North Hanger Fire Costs
To date, the City has incurred $88 million in direct costs and contractual obligations for responding to the
Navy hangar disaster.
(City of Tustin, CA —June 18, 2024) --The City of Tustin announced today that the U.S. Navy has
pledged a fifth reimbursement payment of $27 million to help repay the City for its costs and
contractual obligations in responding to the Navy North Hangar Fire.
The agreement, which was executed on June 17, 2024, represents the second largest increase to
the Navy's repayments to the City since the start of the fire. With the latest pledge, the Navy has
committed to repay the City up to $88 million, which matches the City's costs and contractual
obligations to date.
As of June 10, the Navy has transferred $34 million in reimbursement funds to the City.
"We appreciate the Navy's continued cooperation and its latest pledge to make the City's finances
whole," said Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard. "Knowing the Navy has identified additional funding to
reimburse the City as promised gives us renewed confidence in our ability to recover from this
tragic event, including being reimbursed in full for the tremendous effort the City has conducted on
behalf of the Navy."
The City of Tustin has been actively engaged in seeking reimbursement for its costs incurred due to
the Navy North Hangar Fire. The Navy's reimbursement is crucial in helping the City navigate the
financial challenges resulting from the fire.
The U.S. EPA has found the Navy responsible for the releases associated with the disaster.
News of the latest Navy reimbursement pledge comes just days after results from a detailed study
of the impacts of the Navy Hangar Fire commissioned by the City and approved by federal, state,
and county regulators. That residential study found no increase in lead or asbestos levels in the
surrounding community attributable to the Navy Hangar Fire. The independent study collected and
analyzed 960 samples from 80 randomly selected homes in Tustin, Irvine and Santa Ana.