by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Under a notice of violation since 2008, the Navy has entered into an agreement with the USEPA to clean up its act. The agreement incorporates a schedule of wastewater infrastructure upgrades which are expected to bring the treatment plant and sewer system into full compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Already the Navy has completed $37 million worth of improvements at its Apra Harbor Waste Water Treatment Plant. It now has an additional $50 million worth of improvements to go, which include the repair and replacement of more than 30 miles of sewer lines, force mains, and laterals, hundreds of manholes, and dozens of sewage lift stations.

The Navy has also agreed to institute a base-wide source control program to minimize the release of metals, oils, and other pollutants that are not treated by the Apra Harbor waste water treatment plant. The work is scheduled to completed by 2016.