A BIWEEKLY report was released recently from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency outlining the progress of the investigation on the Ordot Dump and all other dumpsites within the lesser 3-mile vicinity of the site.
In May 2011, a special report was filed at the District Court of Guam by federal receiver Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc., requesting the court to order an investigation into several dump sites within the vicinity of the Ordot Dump.
Several dumpsites were identified in the report which impelled the court to issue an order for GEPA to investigate the dumpsites. The Ordot dumpsite was ordered to stop accepting waste after its scheduled closure in August 2011.
Based on the court directive, GEPA was required to have filed biweekly reports on the status of their investigation since June 17, 2011.
According to GEPA administrator Eric Palacios, they will be working with Lujan Salvage Yard and Towing Services, located near the vicinity of Ordot Dump, within the next few weeks to oversee waste characterization procedures that will determine the types of waste found in the area.
At the Ordot Dump, he stated, GEPA is also working closely with their counterparts at the USEPA and the solid waste receiver in implementing the same waste characterization procedures that will be done at Lujan’s. The information, as well as other data gathered months ago, will help determine the type of capping necessary to permanently close the dumpsite, Palacios said.
In addition, he said the receivership recently installed numerous monitoring wells for methane gas and water quality on site to determine spikes or increases in contamination in the Ordot dumpsite as well as the other landfills located within its 3-mile radius.
“Right now, there have been no numbers, fortunately, to indicate that the Ordot dumpsite is being contaminated by surrounding landfills,” he explained.
The biweekly report also mentioned a notification received from Leo Palace Guam about continued illegal dumping at their property. GEPA, Palacios said, is working with Leo Palace Guam to determine the owners of the illegally dumped trash and will pursue citations, once these individuals have been identified.
