Protest held outside Guam EPA's board meeting over military's open burning/open detonations

A final decision remains up in the air. The members of Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian protested outside of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency late Thursday. Guam EPA board members hearing from about a dozen people - each sharing why they want the military’s permit for open burning and open detonation of waste munitions to be denied.

Signs at the ready. Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian gathered in Tiyan Thursday to let their voices be heard. Monaeka Flores announced, "The community is making our voices loud. We do not want the Guam EPA to approve AAFB application for OB/OD at Tarague Beach. We have a protest going on outside…we are here in person because this is a matter of urgency for all of us."

Flores telling the Guam EPA board the way the Air Force applied for a permit to open burn and open detonate at Tarague Beach is illegal. "Open burning places hazardous waste munitions and an open metal container pouring diesel on top and burning them in an open air by definition OB/OD is uncontrolled and by products of burning and detonation are released directly into the environment," she said.

"What the military showed up in failing to look at the alternatives is that we are not worth it, that the people of Guam are not worth looking at these alternatives," she added.

Jessica Nangauta is a farmer who teaches the youth about caring for the land. She and others sharing the same concerns. She declared, "It shocked me to the core for people like me and many who showed up, we revere land like Nana. .so to hear this proposal, I know it is my duty to voice my opposition because the health our future depends on it."

Also speaking Bobbie Benavente, a Yigo farmer whose husband is a fisherman. "It without a doubt does harm to our land, air, and sea and the well being of our people. OB/OD practices must cease immediately," she said.

Guam EPA has not made a decision on the Air Force’s permit application. Walter Leon Guerrero, GEPA administrator, telling his board it remains under review, adding that they are working with US Epa Region 9 on the waste permitting section of the application.

He says they have been in contact with the military who assured his agency that the Air Force is reviewing alternate technologies for waste muniton disposal.

"We also indicated in a letter to the general that we think the open burning portion of the permit should be closed. We met with the military. They indicated that to close that part of the facility even though they have not used it since 2000 may inhibit some of their future work so again that is the discussion item to identify what is the best path forward. We review our regulations to ensure we are not breaking any laws in what we are doing," he said.

Meantime, the organization represented by Earthjustice has since filed an appeal in the Ninth Circuit hoping the court will reverse the dismissal of their lawsuit in the District Court.