Special session for water contamination suit cut short for public hearing

A special legislative session called by the governor for today was promptly cut short by senators.

The maga'haga is pushing a bill to sue major manufacturers for their role in allegedly contaminating local drinking water. But instead, lawmakers decided to recess and hold back the measure until a public hearing can be held.

Gov. Lou Lou Leon Guerrero's proposed legislation would authorize the attorney general to hire special counsel to possibly join a growing number of states that are suing manufacturing giants such as 3M and Dupont for selling harmful chemicals that may have contaminated drinking water in communities across the country.

Sen. Amanda Shelton read from the governor's letter explaining the urgency.

"I am convinced that our window of opportunity to assert our position in any multi-district litigation is even smaller than I had initially believed," she said. "I have revised my bill entitled Prutehi I'hanom Act of 2019, an act to protect the waters of Guam, by authorizing the acquisition of specialized legal services on a contingency fee basis to assist in actions to ensure clean and safe water on Guam."

An emergency declaration by senators would have effectively waived the public hearing requirement. But instead, Vice Speaker Telena Nelson moved for a recess of the special session.

"Madame speaker its been brought to my attention that there has been a public hearing already scheduled by the oversight chair for this bill that has been referred to and I'd like to make a motion that we recess until such time that the public hearing is held, anticipated to be on July 8," she said.

Senators voted 8 to 5 in favor of a recess. Meanwhile, in a letter to the governor Friday, the AG's office advised that the cases are already being consolidated and it's in Guam's best interest to act promptly. The AG says "To delay could mean missing out on the first, and potentially largest opportunity to obtain relief from the companies that participated in the contamination of our water resources."