Viba Recycling ordered to pay $57,000 in penalties

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - $57,000. That's how much Viba Recycling is expected to pay in administrative penalties imposed by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency. Guam EPA administrator Eric Palacios says the agency actually assessed $114,000 in fines, but because this is the company's first offense, the penalties imposed are cut in half. 

On Wednesday, Viba Recycling was issued a notice of violation for operating illegally before it received a solid waste processing facility permit.  Viba was found in possession of more than eight tons of stolen copper wire last month, and Palacios says logs the company kept show they had been operating for several weeks before police made their discovery.

He told KUAM News, "There could be some cleanup necessary depending on whether or not they appeal because based on the logs we got it wasn't limited to just non-ferrous metals like wire. The records indicate they also received used car batteries and other forms of waste."

Viba Recycling has 14 days to appeal the issuance of the NOV or come to the table to settle the matter and determine how it will come into compliance and pay the penalties.