Public Laws

36th Guam Legislature

35th Guam Legislature

NOTICE Guam EPA Board of Directors Regular Meetin

NOTICE
Guam EPA Board of Directors Regular Meeting, Today 10/21/2021 at 4:00p.m. Please send in a request for the comment period be open for open burn / open detonation pit.

Although open burning has not been conducted since 2002, according to testimony provided by GEPA, and the draft permit states that the open burn site was “decommissioned”, an open burn site is still included in the permit application. It is critical that open burning not be permitted. Once hazardous chemicals such as perfluorinated compounds are released, it is much more difficult to clean up. We have only one aquifer that our population relies upon for drinking water. Other communities whose water source has been contaminated in the US have had to rely on a steady supply of bottled water, which is not sustainable. The focus must be on the prevention of pollution and contamination of our water, air, and food supply.

#guamepa
#ProtectingOurFamilies
#protectingourisland
#protectingourislandresources
#guahan
#openburnpit
#preventioniskey

The open burn/open detonation pit is sited in the

The open burn/open detonation pit is sited in the north near our island’s two most populated villages of Yigo and Dededo. The draft permit would allow the release of hazardous chemicals such as lead, which has been banned in Guam since 1990, and highly carcinogenic substances such as strontium and uranium. Dioxin, which is an endocrine disruptor, carcinogenic in small quantities, and a persistent organic pollutant, has been known to be released as part of the emissions and has been detected in soils
at OB/OD sites.

The most vulnerable, such as children and people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, are most at risk from exposure to particulate matter. Long- and short-term exposures to fine particles or particulate matter of 2.5 microns and smaller (PM2.5) can harm people’s health, leading to heart attacks, asthma attacks, and premature death.

Although open burning has not been conducted since 2002, according to testimony provided by GEPA, and the draft permit states that the open burn site was “decommissioned”, an open burn site is still included in the permit application. It is critical that open burning not be permitted. Once hazardous chemicals such as perfluorinated compounds are released, it is much more difficult to clean up. We have only one aquifer that our population relies upon for drinking water. Other communities whose water source has been contaminated in the US have had to rely on a steady supply of bottled water, which is not sustainable. The focus must be on prevention of pollution and contamination of our water, air, and food supply.

Open burning and open detonation of munitions are old and outdated practices; we can do better, and we should do better, for the safety of our people and for the generations that will inherit the land. The health and safety of our island’s citizens and the impending environmental dangers as a result of this proposed application greatly compromise long-term economic and social advancement at the expense of short-term economic gains.

#protectingourisland
#guahan
#protectingourchildren
#protectingourfamilies
#guamepa
#openburnpit

pc: National Academy of Sciences Presentation

Senator Perez Holds Hearing on Open Burn/Open Deto

Senator Perez Holds Hearing on Open Burn/Open Detonation Pit Urges Use of Viable Alternatives

Senator Sabina Perez today held an informational hearing in regard to a renewal permit application for an Open Burn/Open Detonation Pit at Andersen Air Force Base, submitted to the Guam Environmental Protection Agency for review.

“Open burning and open detonation are based on a ‘dirty technology’ with ‘virtually no emission controls’, which have resulted in extensive contamination and staggering cleanup costs that can reach more than half a billion dollars at a single site,” said Senator Perez.

Across the US, the sites of open burning of hazardous wastes have led to 54 separate federal Superfund declarations and have exposed the people who live near them to dangers that will persist for generations. The 2019 The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report documented the existence of viable alternatives to dispose of energetic wastes. Open Burn/Open Detonation Pits are now considered a source category for toxic ‘forever chemicals’ that threaten to contaminate our drinking water.

“We must remain vigilant in preventing perfluorinated compounds from entering into and forever contaminating our water supply any more than they already have,” said Senator Perez. “Open Burning and Open Detonation of munitions are old and outdated practices. We can do better, and we should do better, for the safety of our people and the generations that will inherit the land,” Senator Perez added.

The purpose of the informational hearing was to increase awareness of the existence and history of the open burn and open detonation pit on Guam, the health and environmental dangers associated with open burning and open detonation, permitting information and the AAFB application under review by Guam EPA, the availability of viable alternative technologies, and the experience of other US communities exposed to toxic releases from open burning and detonation from military bases.

#guahan
#protectingourisland
#openburnpit
#guamepa

Senator Sabina Flores Perez held a presentation of

Senator Sabina Flores Perez held a presentation of Resolution No. 185-36 (LS), recognizing the month of October 2021 as “National Substance Abuse Prevention Month”; and supporting the Government of Guam interagency response in preventing substance abuse amongst our youth in the face of greater pressures placed on our community from the COVID-19 health emergency.
The presentation was held on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, via Lihislaturan Guåhan’s Zoom Conference platform.

In attendance with Senator Perez were Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, Director Therese Arriola; GBHWC, PEACE Prevention and Training Branch, Sara Harrell; PFS Project Director Governor’s PEACE Advisory Council, Vice-Chairman, Victor Camacho; State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup, SEOW, Dr. Annette David; Guam Department of Education; Department of Public Health & Social Services Director Art San Agustin, Tom Nadeau, Chief Environmental Health Officer and Jeffrey Pinaula, Program Coordinator IV, Prescription Drug Monitoring Program; Mañe’lu, Samantha Taitano, Executive Director; Inafa’Maolek Conciliation Program Lillian Dueñas, Board Member/Outreach Coordinator and Kai Santos, Case Coordinator; Aja Ramos, Vice President of Operations, Westcare Pacific Islands; Aileen Artero, Program Manager, Maolek Na Lina’la (Life is Good); and Sanctuary, Inc., Victor Camacho, Executive Director; Senator Amanda Shelton; and Senator Telo Taitague;
#protectingourchildren
#stayingsober
#nationalsubstanceabusepreventionmonth
#saynotodrugs
#guahan

In honor and remembrance of First Nation Peoples t

In honor and remembrance of First Nation Peoples throughout the world ~ Hasso i manmofo’na, i mangefpå’go, yan i manmamaila’

#indigenousday
#bibaguahan
#guahanculture
#guammuseum

Pc📸
From the Collections of the Division of Guam Museum, a division of the Department of CHamorro Affairs