Guam EPA administrator reports staffing, inspections and Didido cleanup; agency considers committing EC grant funds to tipping fees

Administrator Michelle gave a wide‑ranging update on agency operations, enforcement backlog and an ongoing cleanup being supported by U.S. EPA funds.

Staffing and contracts

Michelle said Guam EPA has 53 full‑time employees and is actively recruiting for several positions: public information officer (selection made; candidate unresponsive to start date), chief engineer (interviewed; awaiting DOA management review for above‑step recruitment), environmental technicians (one hired; one vacancy to be reannounced), engineer supervisor (certified list available), and other engineering and environmental health positions in recruitment or reannouncement. She said an AME Services contract for agency headquarters design was signed April 3 but remains at the Attorney General's office awaiting review since May 28; staff reported AG Office delays tied to understaffing in the solicitor division.

Inspections and permitting

Michelle reported that in the last two months Guam EPA conducted 299 inspections across programs and received 167 permit applications while issuing 384 permits (staff corrected that the 167 figure was applications and 384 was permits issued). Board members discussed fleet needs for inspection staff; staff said 15 operational fleet vehicles exist, with 4–5 inspectors routinely conducting field work and some sharing of vehicles across programs.

Didido cleanup and EC grant tipping fees

Michelle updated the board on the Didido site cleanup (federal Superfund/US EPA‑led) and said U.S. EPA had committed about $14 million to clean the site; that funding is nearing exhaustion, staff said. Guam EPA staff reported discussions with U.S. EPA on using EC grant funds to pay tipping fees charged by GSWA (Guam Solid Waste Authority) and said the agency had approval from the U.S. EPA program manager to commit at least $600,000 of EC grant funds for July invoicing; staff said US EPA is routing an action memo amendment to request additional EC funding and that Guam EPA expects invoices from GSWA to document costs.

Enforcement backlog and notices of violation

Board members raised concerns about a backlog of notices of violation (some dating to 2019–2022). Staff said some items are administratively closed but still listed and that the agency only recently regained dedicated legal counsel after a period without in‑house counsel, which slowed enforcement litigation and referrals to the AG's office. For some matters, alleged violators are out of jurisdiction, in bankruptcy, or there are outstanding invoice reconciliations; staff said they are working with AG and DOA to reconcile and prioritize actions. The board asked staff to produce a clearer status report of outstanding NOVs and enforcement cases.

Budget and grants

Staff said categorical consolidated grants will be eliminated for FY2026 but that the agency expects to receive remaining EC grant year‑4 funding (about $9 million) and approximately $1.9 million in categorical grant payments before September 30; staff warned fiscal exposure after FY2026 may require general fund support. Board members asked staff to review fee schedules and inflation adjustments; staff provided an inflation‑adjusted example in which a 1998 $500 permit fee would equate to about $962 today and noted fees likely underrecover current program costs.