For more information, contact:
François Coulombe
Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.
Federal Receiver
(703) 573-5800 / fcoulombe@gbbinc.com
Hagåtña, Guam (November 12, 2026) – The court-appointed Receiver for the Guam Solid Waste Management System, GBB, today announced the submission of a Certification of Cessation of Discharges to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Guam Environmental Protection Agency (Guam EPA) certifying that discharges of pollutants from the former Ordot Dump into waters of the United States have ceased following completion of the Ordot Dump Closure Facility in February 2016.
This certification is the last major component and concludes the environmental remediation efforts undertaken under the federal Consent Decree in United States v. Government of Guam.
"The cessation of discharges from the Ordot Dump represents a significant environmental milestone for Guam," said Christopher A. Lund, Receiver Representative. "This certification reflects years of planning, engineering, construction, environmental monitoring, and collaboration among federal and Government of Guam agencies, consultants, contractors, and the Receiver's team. Before closure occurred, it was estimated that 58 million gallons per year of leachate was discharged from the Ordot Dump waste pile toward the Lonfit River. The discharges have ceased.”
The federal Consent Decree, entered in 2004, was designed to address long-standing Clean Water Act violations associated with the Ordot Dump. Among other requirements, the Consent Decree mandated closure of the dump, implementation of measures necessary to stop discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States, development of a modern solid waste management system, and compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Since its appointment in 2008, the Receiver has overseen implementation of these requirements, including development of the Layon Landfill, closure of the Ordot Dump, and long-term post-closure care. The Receiver also took over a failing solid waste management division of the Department of Public Works (DPW) and, later, the Guam Solid Waste Authority (GSWA), and rebuilt it into a properly administered and operating system. That work included implementing cart-based collection of waste, recyclables, and bulky waste; upgrading existing transfer stations; building the new Harmon residential transfer station and household hazardous waste facility; and overhauling the financial management system. The Receiver also oversaw approximately $168 million in capital projects, delivered within budget.
The Certification of Cessation of Discharges has been submitted to U.S. EPA and Guam EPA pursuant to the Consent Decree and supporting court orders. The certification is supported by regulatory approvals, detailed engineering reports, operational data, inspections, and technical evaluations completed over the past decade.