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Acting administrator: GEA working with US EPA and Joint Region Marianas on contamination probe; 30+ claims filed
Summary
Acting Administrator Glenn Smith told the Guam Environmental Protection Agency board March 19 that the agency is reviewing a draft work plan with US EPA and Joint Region Marianas for a source investigation related to former Anderson Air Force Base housing and that the Office of the Attorney General has received more than 30 claims from residents.
Acting Administrator Glenn Smith told the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEA) board on March 19 that GEA is coordinating with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Joint Region Marianas to review a draft work plan for a source investigation tied to former Anderson Air Force Base housing units.
"We're currently working with US EPA and Joint Region Marianas on the investigation plan review under the federal facility agreement," Smith said, describing the legal basis as Section 120 of the federal facility (CERCLA) process. Smith said the draft work plan was submitted on Feb. 27, 2026 and is under review; portions of the plan are marked controlled unclassified information and require authorization for release.
The update followed a town-hall meeting that drew more than 100 attendees and a series of soil studies. Smith said earlier soil sampling and NAPAC reports flagged elevated lead in shallow soils and that agencies are continuing follow-up sampling and public-health assessment planning. "We provided comments to the designers on some of the needs that we have," he added about technical reviews and information needs.
Smith also told the board that more than 30 claims were filed through the Office of the Attorney General after public outreach and town-hall meetings. He said those claims are being reviewed and that most seek damages or remedies including monetary payments (Smith summarized amounts up to about $500,000), coverage for health monitoring, or installation of point-of-entry water-treatment systems.
The board was told the draft work plan is being held for review by EPA and that the investigative and remediation process will follow federal facility agreement procedures. Smith cautioned that parts of the plan contain material subject to limited distribution because of controlled-unclassified information designations.
The board did not take action on the investigation at the March 19 meeting; Smith said the agency is awaiting formal responses from partner agencies and the attorney general's office on the claims and next steps.
The next procedural milestone noted was the work plan review; Smith said the hearing-officer schedule and timing for certain administrative decisions will be forthcoming once federal and AG reviews are complete.
