Guam EPA board approves revised well‑driller SOP, directs staff to define 'equivalent experience'

The Guam Environmental Protection Agency board of directors approved a revised standard operating procedure for well‑driller licensing on July 31, 2026, voting to adopt the document subject to edits that add objective criteria for determining "equivalent experience." Chair opened the continuation meeting from June 9 and introduced the packet containing the revisions.

Heather, raising a central concern during discussion, said "we're talking about equivalent experience acceptable to the Guam EPA administrator" and pressed the board to add a framework so future administrators apply the same standards. Staff member responded that some vagueness stems from statutory language and proposed rephrasing the SOP to remove ambiguity between limited and unlimited driller categories.

To address the concern, staff proposed three bulleted criteria for "equivalent experience" to be incorporated into the SOP: (1) documented experience working for an island water utility such as the Guam Water Authority; (2) work for a public water system (including military systems on island); and (3) documented past or current drilling activities with private companies or other utilities. Staff also suggested involving Susan Marquez, the Guam EPA program manager for water resources, to help draft the qualifications.

The board moved to approve the SOP subject to those edits and the inclusion of the proposed bullets. After a second and brief confirmation of no further discussion, members voted in favor and the motion passed. The board directed staff to incorporate the agreed language and return the revised text for administrative filing or further review as required.