by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Guam Environmental Protection Agency is recommending that the Guam Land Use Commission hear the denial of Cyfred's PILOT sewer system application. The company had requested approval from the agency to install a system that would be similar to septic tanks and leaching fields.

GEPA administrator Eric Palacios denied the application expressing concerns with the proposal.

"Our position is that it's directly over the aquifer and we don't say these are the minimum lot sizes for this project or that project. That's the Land Use Commission. So our decision was based on that fact that here's our northern aquifer which we have to protect but it's the above ground issue that we don't have jurisdiction, we believe, to hear."

Guam EPA does make decisions on sewer applications but in this particular case, Palacios believes it is a zoning matter for GLUC to review. The EPA board is scheduled to discuss the matter during their board meeting on the 20th of this month with administrative hearing officer Robert Cruz. Dozens of residents have waited more than a decade for a sewer system to be installed at the Gill-Baza Subdivision.

Some even took the matter to court and a judge imposed an $800,000 financial judgment against Cyfred.