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Guam EPA acting administrator summarizes staffing, legislation, audits, inspections and SIP submission
Summary
Acting Administrator Catherine DeGrange reported on recruitment, legislation under consideration, grants and partnerships, an ongoing recycling‑fund audit, inspection and permitting activity, and submission of a sulfur dioxide emissions inventory to US EPA.
Acting Administrator Catherine DeGrange delivered the Guam EPA administrator’s report at the June 19, 2025 board meeting, summarizing staffing changes, legislative activity, grant projects, ongoing audits, enforcement notices and major program updates.
Key points: DeGrange said Guam EPA currently has 55 full‑time equivalents on staff and outlined multiple recruitment actions across divisions (public information officer, chief engineer, environmental technicians, engineer supervisors, and environmental health specialists); several certifications and selections are pending Department of Administration review. She reported an A&E contract signed on April 3, 2025, currently at the Attorney General’s office for review. DeGrange described agency testimony on pending bills, including changes to the plastic bag law (Public Law 36‑98, effective July 1, 2025) and a separate bill (ref. 28‑38 corrected) intended to expand the agency’s compliance and enforcement capacity and permitted uses of the Environmental Response Fund.
Grants and partnerships: DeGrange reviewed grant activity including a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant supporting composting and community trainings, participation in the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability conference, and an invitation to propose projects for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds appropriated for Typhoon Mawar recovery.
Audits, inspections and permits: The agency is undergoing an audit of the Recycling Revolving Fund; staff said they are gathering documents and working with the auditor. Inspection activity cited in the report included 198 inspections for a period in spring and, for a broader period ending May 23, 2025, 247 inspections. Permit activity cited in the packet ranged from 111 applications/116 issuances (earlier window) to 420 applications/124 issuances with 9 permits on hold for the later window; DeGrange said some issuances reflect prior applications.
Enforcement notices: Board members were advised that recent notices of violation include a May 21 NOV alleging water pollution related to a private wastewater disposal system at an extended‑house construction in Chialompago, and an April 29 NOV for Grama Memorial Hospital’s skilled nursing unit concerning hazardous‑waste and underground storage tank recordkeeping and monitoring. DeGrange said a notice of intent to appeal had been received for the hazardous‑waste NOV and a request for a hearing officer had been submitted to the Attorney General’s office.
Air quality action: The agency submitted a sulfur dioxide emissions inventory and related documentation electronically to the US Environmental Protection Agency for review on June 6, 2025, staff said. DeGrange said the agency and federal partners addressed gaps in an earlier inventory and worked with US EPA on marine emission calculations; a favorable federal determination could limit further state implementation plan requirements.
Board requests and next steps: Directors asked for an inventory of agency vehicles to support inspector work and requested clearer, easily shareable guidance for mayors and residents on when to contact Guam EPA about illegal dumping and vehicle/junkyard complaints. Board members also requested the agency bring draft rules for Type 4 wastewater treatment systems to a future meeting.
Sources: Administrator’s reports presented verbally and in board packet during the June 19, 2025 Guam Environmental Protection Agency board meeting.
