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EPA fines Guam Waterworks Authority additional $35,000 for failure to meet federal court order requirements

Release Date: 03/16/2006
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov

(03/16/06) HONOLULU -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined the Guam Waterworks Authority an additional $35,000 for failing to fully comply with a 2003 court order to develop a final master plan.

“GWA needs to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent further delays in completing a fully compliant master plan,” said Alexis Strauss, the EPA’s director for water programs in the Pacific Southwest region. “With these continuing delays, the residents of Guam must wait longer for safe, reliable wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.”

GWA has provided a “work-in-progress” report instead of a fully developed draft master plan, which will be used as a road map for making immediate and long term infrastructure improvements.

GWA has been in violation of the draft master plan deadline since Oct. 27 and in violation of the final master plan deadline since Jan. 25.

Based on the penalties allowed by the stipulated court order, GWA has accrued a total penalty of $70,000 for failing to provide a final master plan. The stipulated order provides the EPA with discretion to reduce stipulated penalties, resulting in the current $35,000 fine.

Guam’s drinking water system is currently undergoing repairs and improvements to provide a more reliable supply of water to island residents. The island’s wastewater treatment system is also being upgraded to ensure proper disposal of treated wastewater and to prevent any spills and overflows.


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