The Guam Environmental Protection Agency has released the findings of its investigation into a video that appeared to show storm water runoff being pumped from a hotel driveway into the ocean. The agency has determined that the Dusit Thani Guam Resort did not violate any environmental laws or regulations.

An investigation was launched after viewer submitted video depicting what appeared to be storm water runoff being pumped into Tumon Bay from a parking area between Dusit Thani and Outrigger following Tropical Storm Chan-Hom last week. The video raised concern as Tumon Bay is a marine preserve area and any pollutant to the bay could have negative impacts on marine life, habitat and water quality.

According to Guam EPA administrator Eric Palacios as part of the investigation water quality samples around the Tumon Marine Preserve area were collected and inspections were conducted as part of their assessment. And what Guam EPA's investigation revealed was not something that could be seen in the video.

According to a release from Guam EPA, Palacios states, "The hotel's action helped to protect the bay by moving storm water into an approved filtration drain to reduce the raw runoff into the ocean."

The approved storm water management system is located near the beach and is comprised of a French drainage system and storm drain. Palacios says that storm water enters the system where it is naturally filtered into the ground.

So what about the gush of water that can be seen in the video? According to Palacios that something the video also does not show. He says, "What's also not seen are existing, natural discharge points that very likely led to the water rivulet heading to the ocean."

He says that natural discharge points can be found all along the beachside in Tumon adding that Guam EPA will continue to work with all hotels in the continued preservation of the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve area.