Respicio questions use of recycling funds

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Senator Rory Respicio, who authored the public law that created the fund says he will be calling for an audit of the Revolving Recycling Fund after what he calls "questionable spending" by Guam EPA administrator Eric Palacios. Along with Palacios admitting to $70,000 from the fund to pay for a recent zero waste conference, Respicio questioned the lack of a strategic plan in place on how to use funds recently released to the mayors. Respicio says his main concern is that the Mayors Council has not been formally consulted in the development of an operational plan. Respicio says the recently passed Bill 220 would mandate a strategic plan be put into placed detailing the planned expenditures of the funds. According to a release from Respicio, Palacios says the governor plans to veto the measure which passed straight down party lines.

Palacios issued a response that he did not tell Respicio about any veto saying he is not sure what led Respicio to make that statement. He adds with regards to the $400,000 to the Mayors Council of Guam, there is in fact an approved work plan in place which spells out how the funds will be invested in our community that was signed by MCOG executive director Angel Sablan. As for the additional $2.5 million, Palacios says Guam EPA will produce a work plan for each mayor and vice mayor to reference throughout the process.