by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Guam Waterworks Authority and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency disagree with the scope of work and deadlines. Proposed in the new consent decree that's being drafted. In the latest status report filed with the District Court, GWA contends that the feds have created unrealistic and unattainable deadlines for the work that remains to be done.

The agency is hoping that the next agreement that is reached will clearly spell out the USEPA's role as the regulator and GWA's role as the operator. It feels that the federal entity should not have a role in the approval of its designs and plans. GWA also took issue with the USEPA's correlation of 19 polluted beaches with the agency's operations. Officials contend that the feds have made unfounded allegations.

The court is scheduled to hold a status hearing on March 9.