5 Sep 2009

Guam EPA ordered not to further delay closure of controversial landfill

9:26 am on 5 September 2009

A US federal judge has ordered the Guam Environmental Protection Agency board that any further delay to close the Ordot dump - and replace it with a new landfill - will not be tolerated.

The Pacific Daily news reports that District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood directed the US Marshals Service to personally serve each GEPA board member with her order.

This comes after the judge received a report that there was alleged political pressure - including from certain Guam EPA board members - to consider a landfill permit for a site in Guatali rather than prioritizing the Layon landfill that the court had already approved.

The government of Guam has been ordered to close the Ordot dump and open the Layon landfill to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that waste from the Ordot dump is contaminating the environment.

Years of delays led to the appointment of a receiver to take over the dump closure and landfill construction in Layon.