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Guam EPA board adopts revised risk‑assessment document; interim action levels remain unchanged
Summary
The Guam EPA board unanimously adopted a revised risk assessment document (May 11, 2026) clarifying post‑treatment procedures; the interim action levels of 0.2 and 0.5 micrograms per liter were reported unchanged and staff said next steps include developing a maximum contamination level (MCL) through rulemaking.
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency Board of Directors voted unanimously on May 21 to adopt an updated risk‑assessment document dated May 11, 2026, that clarifies procedures after approved treatment for an emerging contaminant. Agency staff said the interim action levels—reported in the presentation as 0.2 and 0.5 micrograms per liter—did not change and the update mainly clarifies steps taken after treatment is implemented.
Julie, an EPA staff member who presented the changes, said the revisions were prepared after additional public comments and questions from Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) and that most edits were clarifying rather than substantive. "We addressed GWA's primary concern about effective dates and clarified post‑treatment procedures," Julie said.
Staff told the board they plan to convert the interim action level into a permanent maximum contamination level through the agency's rulemaking process and to include it when updating water quality standards. The presentation included public‑comment history, a clean (strike‑out free) updated document and a full record of prior comments dating back to December.
Board members asked for a minor editorial correction to the resolution language and then moved to adopt the revised risk‑assessment document; the motion passed by voice vote. After adoption, staff said they will proceed with drafting the regulatory steps needed to make the threshold permanent and will supply copies of the final document and any corrected resolution language to the board.
The board's action makes the May 11, 2026 risk‑assessment document the agency's adopted reference for when to take interim actions; staff emphasized the next formal step is rulemaking to establish an MCL.
