Guam EPA investigates growing dumpsite on real estate developer's property

Construction debris, household appliances, and garbage bags form a mountain of trash spilling out behind a plywood barricade in Tamuning across the Hoshino Resorts Risonare Guam.

An anonymous tip from a concerned resident brought KUAM News to check out this apparent illegal dumpsite.

The informant said he reported the dumpsite to the Tamuning Mayor’s Office and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency last month, but the eyesore is still here.

Just in front of the dumpsite, construction is ongoing at the former Salvation Army thrift store.

Maintenance Supervisor Michael Benevente told us the new property owner is his employer Lihpao investments LLC. and they are aware of the growing pile of trash.

In fact, he admitted they are the ones responsible.

“We are the ones that actually cleared it to begin with so we had to dump it there first,” Benevente said.

He added they plan to clean up the trash once construction is over, though agreed the dumpsite is a concern.

“I just found out when I got back and I told the higher ranks, but they said it's private property so I don't know. I'm just doing what they’re telling me to do,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tamuning Mayor Lousie Rivera who also met KUAM onsite said it’s been on her radar for several months.

“You know everyone is concerned. Especially when we are trying to bring back our tourists and we have our hotel right across that sees all this. I'm just really glad that in speaking to the workers that are doing the construction next door they claim that they its their property and their trash and that they are going to be responsible to have it cleaned up,” she said.

But is it still considered an illegal dumpsite and could the responsible party face fines?

Guam EPA said they’re currently investigating.

“What’s going to happen is personnel from the agency is going to do a compliance inspection. they will make an assessment on the amount of waste that is improperly on the property,” said GEPA spokesperson Nic Rupley Lee.

The agency is checking if they have a building permit, which requires the applicant to provide a solid waste disposal plan.

But even with the permit, he said “the waste still has to be properly managed. and part of that is a safety component. We don't want applicants creating the risk of fire or creating vectors for pests to proliferate in the area. or if somebody wanders in there, they could hurt themselves.”

With a new littering law passed earlier this year, if found in violation, the responsible party could be facing fines upwards of $10,000.