by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - It was in the early part of this year when the Guam Economic Development Authority and the Guam Resource Recovery Partners reached a settlement agreement through court ordered mediation. And before any action is taken on the proposed waste-to-energy facility contract, lawmakers want more public input.

Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. says before he can decide on his position for the contract for a proposed waste to energy facility, he needs the proper and appropriate information. "GEDA and GRRP went into court ordered mediation so they sent down a proposed contract however it has not yet received the public scrutiny it needs to for this thing to move forward," he explained.

And in order to receive that input, the oversight chair of GEDA will hold an informational hearing on Monday with GEDA and GRRP on their Draft Settlement Agreement. "We want to make sure we get all the information necessary and then move this thing forward 0042 if it is a good proposal for the people of Guam, then I think we should move forward. If it's a bad proposal then I think we should reject it," he said.

As we reported back in March, while the waste-to-energy contract had been negotiated between GRRP and GovGuam through court ordered mediation, the government isn't necessarily in agreement with every provision of it. Solid waste incineration is illegal on Guam and would require the legislature to change the law if the contract were to move forward.

Rodriguez, who says he hasn't seen the proposed contract, hopes to address the matter before another possible lawsuit comes before GovGuam - one he says we can't afford. "Because this has been going on for two decades and I think we should not kick the can down the road, so to speak, and leave it to our children to take care of this is something that needs to be addressed today," he said.

Governor Eddie Calvo meanwhile had previously stated he would not sign anything unless several factors were met including if it is environmentally safe, if its financially sound and if its legal. Federal receiver Gershman Brickner & Bratton meanwhile raised concern over how it believed the contract would significantly increase the cost of disposal of solid waste on Guam. GEDA, GRRP, the Attorney General's Office and members of the public have been invited to the hearing set for June 9 at 930 in the morning at the Guam Legislature's Public Hearing Room.