by Janjeera Hail

Guam - Meetings are scheduled next week between representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and the Consolidated Commission on Utilities. They'll be discussing the impact of the military buildup on Guam's infrastructure, particularly plans to upgrade the Agana and Northern wastewater treatment facilities.

Japan has committed to providing Guam with $740 million to help improve utilities, but concerns have been raised that taxpayers will be left to repay that loan. CCU Chairman Simon Sanchez says however that he and the Commission are firm that the improvements will come at no cost to the local people. "Whatever form the assistance from Japan may take, if any of it requires repayment, 100% of the repayment would come from the DoD. That's the Guam Waterworks Authority's position. That's the preferred solution in the Environmental Impact Statement," he explained.

Discussions will continue the following week, with the arrival of officials from Japan.