Guam - Department of Defense funding isn't a done deal.  That's the sentiment from the latest filing by attorneys for the U.S. Government, responding to Guam Waterworks Authority's most recent status report.  The report summarizes GWA's seven existing stipulated order violations, including its failure to assess drinking water supply tanks and its inability to hire a new general manager.  But it also accuses GWA of misstating "important aspects regarding DoD's commitment to assist GWA in resolving its waste and wastewater issues". 

GWA and the Consolidated Commission on Utilities have been meeting with representatives from the USEPA and the DoD in the past months to discuss how to fund infrastructure improvements in preparation for the military buildup, especially upgrading the island's Northern and Hagatna wastewater treatment plants.  GWA has claimed that capital improvement funding will come at no cost to local ratepayers. 

However, the U.S. believes "there has been no commitment by the United States, much less DoD, to be fully responsible for repayment of financing costs".  Furthermore, the U.S. states that the compliance problems have existed for years and were not caused by the proposed military build-up therefore GWA needs to address the issues and "not seek to defer work until some indefinite time in the future".