From mountain of trash to pyramid of progress
District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco Gatewood recalled her first visit to the Ordot Dump and today noted an absence of stench and a reduction of flies that once consumed the area.
June 26, 2014Updated: June 26, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Jolene Toves
Guam - What was once a mountain of trash now resembles a pyramid in progress.
"This particular site had some very unique challenges primarily because of the very steep slopes and how to obtain the seismic stability for the mast without having to move trash off the site basically," said Gershman, Brickner & Bratton's Paul Berring. He led today's tour of the Ordot Dump, which is finally seeing progress.
District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco Gatewood recalled her first visit to the site and today noted an absence of stench and a reduction of flies that once consumed the area. Berring described how they were moving mountains - literally - saying, "Over 165,000 cubic yards of waste will be relocated and consolidated under the enclosure 330,000 of earthwork will shape and protect the site over a 1.6 million or approximately 38 acres of the liner will be deployed to prevent infiltration and contamination of storm water."
And while there was much to say about progress, there's still the issue of GSWA's concerns and request for greater autonomy. As we reported GSWA filed a letter with the court in February seeking resolution to four main issues. To immediately start the search for a general manager, allow the board a real oversight role in portions of the Guam Solid Waste Authority operation, start the search for a chief financial officer and finally the ability to immediately issue an RFP for legal services. Those issues are expected to be addressed during tomorrow's continued status conference.
GSWA board chair Andrew Gayle stated, "What we are interested in doing is ultimately saving the government money this is a very expensive process and there are other projects that need to be done and our point is we would like to start a transition period earlier."
Tomorrow's status hearing is at 8:30 in the morning.
Guam - What was once a mountain of trash now resembles a pyramid in progress.
"This particular site had some very unique challenges primarily because of the very steep slopes and how to obtain the seismic stability for the mast without having to move trash off the site basically," said Gershman, Brickner & Bratton's Paul Berring. He led today's tour of the Ordot Dump, which is finally seeing progress.
District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco Gatewood recalled her first visit to the site and today noted an absence of stench and a reduction of flies that once consumed the area. Berring described how they were moving mountains - literally - saying, "Over 165,000 cubic yards of waste will be relocated and consolidated under the enclosure 330,000 of earthwork will shape and protect the site over a 1.6 million or approximately 38 acres of the liner will be deployed to prevent infiltration and contamination of storm water."
And while there was much to say about progress, there's still the issue of GSWA's concerns and request for greater autonomy. As we reported GSWA filed a letter with the court in February seeking resolution to four main issues. To immediately start the search for a general manager, allow the board a real oversight role in portions of the Guam Solid Waste Authority operation, start the search for a chief financial officer and finally the ability to immediately issue an RFP for legal services. Those issues are expected to be addressed during tomorrow's continued status conference.
GSWA board chair Andrew Gayle stated, "What we are interested in doing is ultimately saving the government money this is a very expensive process and there are other projects that need to be done and our point is we would like to start a transition period earlier."
Tomorrow's status hearing is at 8:30 in the morning.