2012 Guam EPA Citizens Centric Report

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P.O. Box 22439 GMF Barrigada GU 96913 epa.guam.gov Phone - 671.475.1658/59 Fax - 671.475.8007 “All Living Things of the Earth are One.” Agency Information Operational Structure Progress Report Financial Report 2013 Goals Future Challenges Fiscal 2011 Report Issued July 2012 OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE Guam EPA has four Divisions and several special program areas. Each division has multiple pro- grams that work to protect Guam’s natural resources. The Agency is comprised of the Water Division, the Air and Land Division, environmental Monitoring and Surveillance (EMAS) Division and Administrative Services Divi- sion. Under each division, separate programs work to enforce local environmental law. Staff are guided by local mandates and goals set by federal grants. Programs are funded almost en- tirely by federal grants administered by U.S. EPA. There are some proj- ects the Agency completes through local or special funds. Guam EPA receives technical guidance and sup- port from U.S. EPA Region 9 and the Pacific Islands Office located in San Francisco, CA. STRATEGIC GOALS During FY 2011, Guam EPA’s strategical goals included streamlin- ing permiing, improving staffing training and retention, increasing public outreach and education and resolving enforcement issues. DEMOGRAPHICS/ATTRITION Staffing at Guam EPA continues to be a critical issue for the agency. In 2011 Guam EPA has 48 full-time employees. This is a decrease from 59 employees in 2009 and 57 em- ployees in 2008. Many spots in pro- grams need to be filled to complete each program mission successfully. Multiple programs; one main objective To maintain high quality en- vironment be maintained at all times to guarantee an enjoyable life for all people at present and in the future, and that all environmental degrada- tion of the quality of land, water, and air by any pollutants, including all physical, chemical, and biological agents, should not be allowed. To these ends, it is the pur- pose of this Guam EPA provide a united, integrated, and comprehen- sive territory-wide program of envi- ronmental protection and to provide a framework to fulfill that task. Public Law 11-191 Mission Statement Table of Contents 1 1 2 3 4 4 Contact Information Guam EPA Administration Building 17-3304, Mariner Ave. Tiyan, Barrigada, GU 96921 Telephone: (671) 475-1658/9 Fax: (671) 475-8007 Guam EPA Operations Building 15-6101 Mariner Ave. Tiyan, Barrigada, GU 96921 Telephone: (671) 475-1628 Fax:(671) 475-8006 IN THE FIELD: Guam EPA staff work together at the Hagatna Boat Basin during a cleanup in September 2011.

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This annual report gives a brief overview of the work at the Agency during the past fiscal year.

Transcript of 2012 Guam EPA Citizens Centric Report

Page 1: 2012 Guam EPA Citizens Centric Report

P.O. Box 22439 GMF Barrigada GU 96913epa.guam.gov Phone - 671.475.1658/59 Fax - 671.475.8007“All Living Things of the Earth are One.”

Agency Information Operational StructureProgress Report Financial Report2013 GoalsFuture Challenges

Fiscal 2011 Report Issued July 2012

OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE Guam EPA has four Divisions and several special program areas. Each division has multiple pro-grams that work to protect Guam’s natural resources. The Agency is comprised of the Water Division, the Air and Land Division, environmental Monitoring and Surveillance (EMAS) Division and Administrative Services Divi-sion. Under each division, separate programs work to enforce local environmental law. Staff are guided by local mandates and goals set by federal grants. Programs are funded almost en-tirely by federal grants administered by U.S. EPA. There are some proj-ects the Agency completes through

local or special funds. Guam EPA receives technical guidance and sup-port from U.S. EPA Region 9 and the Pacific Islands Office located in San Francisco, CA. STRATEGIC GOALS During FY 2011, Guam EPA’s strategical goals included streamlin-ing permitting, improving staffing training and retention, increasing public outreach and education and resolving enforcement issues. DEMOGRAPHICS/ATTRITION Staffing at Guam EPA continues to be a critical issue for the agency. In 2011 Guam EPA has 48 full-time employees. This is a decrease from 59 employees in 2009 and 57 em-ployees in 2008. Many spots in pro-grams need to be filled to complete each program mission successfully.

Multiple programs; one main objective

To maintain high quality en-vironment be maintained at all times to guarantee an enjoyable life for all people at present and in the future, and that all environmental degrada-tion of the quality of land, water, and air by any pollutants, including all physical, chemical, and biological agents, should not be allowed. To these ends, it is the pur-pose of this Guam EPA provide a united, integrated, and comprehen-sive territory-wide program of envi-ronmental protection and to provide a framework to fulfill that task. Public Law 11-191

Mission Statement

Table of Contents112344

Contact InformationGuam EPA Administration Building17-3304, Mariner Ave. Tiyan, Barrigada, GU 96921 Telephone: (671) 475-1658/9Fax: (671) 475-8007

Guam EPA Operations Building 15-6101 Mariner Ave. Tiyan, Barrigada, GU 96921 Telephone: (671) 475-1628Fax:(671) 475-8006

IN THE FIELD: Guam EPA staff work together at the Hagatna Boat Basin during a cleanup in September 2011.

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Guam EPA Progress report - FY 2011

Air and Land DivisionHAZARDOUS WASTEThis program is responsible for the proper management of substances con-sidered by law to be hazardous. Their work includes:• Implementing and enforcing waste data

management information and the Under-ground Storage Tank (UST) state program,

• Conducting inspections and ensuring compliance with local and federal hazardous waste laws and regulations,

• Overseeing Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) remediation

SOLID WASTEThis program focuses on management of any solid waste including residen-tial, commercial, hardfill materials and green waste. Their work includes: • Reviewing applications for permits and en-

suring compliance with permits for munici-palsolidwastelandfills,transferstations,hardfillsandothersolidwasteactivities,

• Investigating illegal dump sites and re-sponding to complaints, and

• Revising the Integrated Solid Waste Man-agement Plan for Guam.

PESTICIDESThis program is responsible for ensur-ing registered pesticides are used cor-rectly in Guam. Their work includes: • Surveying pesticide imports to ensure no

illegal products are coming to Guam, • Reviewing the conduct of those using

pesticides in their workplace including ensuringtheyhavethepropercertificationand training,

• Trackpesticideinfluenceovergroundwater,and

• Respond to complaints of misuse of pesti-cides.

AIR POLLUTION CONTROLThis program focuses on protecting Guam’s air quality by doing the follow-ing: • Keeping Guam’s state implementation plan

updated and maintained, • Providing tests, education and outreach

about Radon, • Testing motor vehicle exhaust to ensure

compliance, • Overseeing the asbestos and lead abatement

activities of Guam, • Maintaining Guam’s radiation monitoring

programs, • EnsureIllegalChlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)

are not being imported to Guam, and providing air-related advisories when neces-sary.

DSMOA/GREEN PARCEL PROGRAMThis program works to ensure proper-ties are clean and used to their fullest potential. Their work includes:• Oversight of environmental activities on

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 1993 (III) and BRAC 1995 (IV), Navy Installation Restoration Program (IRP), AndersenAirForceBaseEnvironmentalRestorationProgram(NPLsite)andFor-merlyUsedDefenseSites(FUDS)

• Implementing the Green Parcel Program via federally-funded activities to revitalize lands.

Water DivisionSAFE DRINKING WATERThis program is charged with making sure all of Guam’s drinking water is safe for consumption. Their work includes:• Oversight and enforcement of Guam’s Safe

Drinking Water laws and regulations, • Offeringandrequiringoperator’scertifica-

tion for those working on Guam’s drinking water system,

• Enforcing the Guam Lead Ban Act, • Monitoring GWA’s compliance with the

Stipulated Order (SO), and • Enforce drinking water laws as they pertain

to water retailers, vending machine and other establishments.

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENTThis program monitors Guam’s ground-water to ensure it is not being impacted by surface activities. Their work in-cludes:• Running the Underground Injection Con-

trol (UIC) Program, • Enforcing the Wellhead Protection Program, • Enforcingregulationsandpermittingre-

quirementsforthosewhodeveloporoperatewater resources,

• Monitoring ground and surface water quality,

• Implementing the Groundwater Remedia-tion Program and the MOU between Guam EPA and U.S. EPA regarding the Northern Guam Lens.

WATER POLLUTION CONTROLThis program protects all types of water

in Guam through law, rules and regula-tions. Their work includes:• Providing oversight of sewer construction• Reviewing permit applications for the Na-

tional Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES),

• Leads the Spill Prevention and Control Countermeasure(SPCC)effortsofGuamEPA,

• ProvidesWatershedPlanningCommitteeleadership,

• Implements and administers the U.S. EPA Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program,

• Is the lead division in the development and reporting of impaired waters to the U.S. EPAthroughtheCleanWaterActrequire-ments.

• Acts as the lead in implementing and en-forcing soil erosion control and feedlot waste regulations, and

• Implements and enforce Individual Waste-water Regulations.

Environmental Moni-toring and Analytical MONITORING PROGRAMThis program conducts multiple moni-toring programs for the island. This includes: • Collects samples for the BEACH program• Implements the Guam Water Quality Moni-

toring Strategy, and• Provides technical support to other pro-

grams and agenciesANALYTICAL SERVICES PROGRAMThis program is tasked with maintain-ing and running Guam EPA’s certified laboratory. This includes: • Conducting and administering the

DrinkingWaterLaboratoryCertificationprogram,

• Analyzing surface and groundwater samples

Administrative and Management DivisionStaff within the Administrative Services Division, including the Administra-tor, provide critical grant management and other type of support for the entire agency. For more information about our staffing, call 475-1658.

Working together to protect Guam’s natural resources

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All Living Things of the Earth Are One www.epa.guam.gov

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Financial Report Fiscal 2011FY 2011 - Guam EPA Progress report

All Living Things of the Earth Are One www.epa.guam.gov

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PERMIT REVIEW Guam EPA continues to see an increase in permit applications. This includes stormwater management permits, building inspections, septic tank leaching fields and other vari-ous environmental permitting areas. These projects, coupled with the loss of staff and increase of permits required for Department of Defense related projects has significantly

increased the permit review workload for the agency. This mass of permit

applications has been an ongoing issue and will continue to be until staffing shortages and technical training gaps are mended. ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY The increase of construction in Guam and the limited staffing of Guam EPA combined has made enforce-ment an ongo-ing issue. Without proper staff to enforce, advise or issue notices of violations, Guam EPA is handicapped in being able to achieve the Agency’s mission. UPDATING REGULATIONS Many rules and regulations governing environmental protection in Guam are old and outdated. The addition of full-time legal counsel for the agency is a great step for-ward in updating Guam’s rules and regulations to protect the environ-ment.

TRAINING AND RETENTION The influx of new projects and com-panies to Guam com-bined with

the limited pay scale opportunities within the Government of Guam has created a severe retention problem for Guam EPA. Retention will be critical as tech-nical staff and institutional knowl-edge are needed for the proper review permits and applications.PUBLIC INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY Guam EPA will continue to im-prove our transparency and public outreach programs in 2013. The Agency has one of the most com-prehensive websites in the govern-

ment and maintains it weekly. FOIA requests are responded to promptly and the Agency con-tinues to be an ac-tive partner in the Guam Environmental Education Committee through various events like Earth Day 2012.

IMPROVED PERMITTING Guam EPA is working on estab-lishing E-Permitting process. This process is currently in use with DoD projects and the Agency hopes to ex-pand for other sectors in the future.ENFORCEMENT Effective enforcement has been and will continue to be a major goal for Guam EPA. Guam EPA is part-nering with other natural resource

agencies to increase the amount of inspec-tors in the field and enforcement actions. CONTIN-UED CER-TIFICA-TIONOF LABORATORY Guam EPA’s lab has been certi-fied by U.S. EPA Region 9 for micro-biology and inorganics. The contin-ued certification of this lab is critical to monitoring and effective data gathering.PESTICIDE ENFORCEMENT The Pesticide Enforcement Pro-gram will continue training those who apply pesticides as part of their work and local Cus-toms of-ficers who inter-cept illegal products at the border. applicators of pesticides in properhandling techniques.EMERGENCY RESPONSEGuam EPA continues to play a crucial role in Guam’s emergency response procedures. Through train-ing and exercises, the Agency will continue to be prepared for any emer-gency.

2013 Challenges and Goals

For more information about the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, visit us at www.epa.guam.gov or call (671) 475-1658/59.

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