GBB Assuming Responsibilities of the Guam Solid Waste Management Division
United States District Court of Guam Appoints GBB as Receiver

On March 17, 2008, the United States District Court of Guam placed the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Public Works in Guam in Receivership for noncompliance with the Clean Water Act as set forth in a Consent Decree signed between the Government of Guam and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) on February 11, 2004. This Consent Decree ordered the Government of Guam to close the Ordot Dump, cease all discharges into the Lonfit River, open a new municipal solid waste landfill facility and develop and implement recycling and hazardous waste strategies to reduce the volume of materials disposed in the landfill.

On-the-ground review of the Ordot Dump by GBB in Guam.

In a Court Order, the Honorable Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, Chief Judge of the United States District Court of Guam, delegated full power and authority to GBB, as Receiver, to enforce the terms of the Consent Decree and assume all of the responsibilities, functions, duties, powers and authority of the Solid Waste Division.

The Territory of Guam is an island in the Western Pacific Ocean with a population of over 173,000. The United States government is currently expanding the country's military presence on Guam, making the implementation of the Consent Decree of even greater importance to assure that Guam is able to effectively support all members of the Guam community, including the men and women of the armed services who will be based there.

Harvey Gershman, GBB President, is the overall Officer-in-Charge for this assignment; David L. Manning, GBB Special Principal Associate, serves as GBB's Receiver representative acting on behalf of GBB; and Chace Anderson, GBB Vice President, and Chris Lund, P.E., GBB Senior Project Engineer and former GEPA Chief Engineer, are other key members of the Project Team.

In early April, GBB launched the Guam Solid Waste Receivership Information Center Website, a resource providing information and documents on the project (www.GuamSolidWasteReceiver.org). After a comprehensive review of Court records and Department of Public Works documents, the Receiver team began on-the-ground operations in Guam in April 2008, which will continue without interruption until full compliance with the Consent Decree is achieved. While in Guam, the Receiver team conferred extensively with the Court, Guam's government officials and other key groups. The team also held a media briefing on April 25, during which they outlined the Receiver's objectives and provided an overview of solid waste management best practices.

A summary of the Receiver's initial findings is provided on the Receivership Website. To date, the Receivership has addressed the condition of equipment; realigned the Solid Waste Division organization; improved Ordot Dump operations; explored cooperation with military authorities on the new landfill and recycling; and began work on a draft Action Plan to be submitted to the Court in July 2008.

"We are honored to have been selected by the Chief Judge for this important assignment," said Harvey Gershman. "This will be challenging work for all involved, and GBB is up to the task. Our selection, we believe, is a testament to GBB's innovation, leadership, track record and proven ability to make change happen and generate success stories. In this assignment, GBB is responsible solely to the U.S. District Court of Guam but will work closely with the elected officials, public works, financial advisors, and other stakeholders in Guam to achieve full compliance with the terms of the Consent Decree in the most cost-effective and expeditious manner possible."

Related Web Links:

>> Guam Solid Waste Receivership Information Center
>> Summary of Initial Findings / Latest Updates
>> Press Release - Receivership Announcement
>> Press Release - Website Launch

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Maui County's Draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Completed
Plan Aims at 60% Diversion Rate from Current 36%

• Providing single-stream curbside recycling collection and weekly trash collection;

• Providing residential curbside collection of white goods, bulky waste and household hazardous waste ;

• Developing MRFs to process recyclables and C&D waste;

• Implementing a landfill gas collection system and generating electricity from it;

• Increasing environmental education;

• Developing a transfer facility and convenience / recycling center;

• Consolidating certain base yards and developing a centrally located solid waste campus;

• Initiating C&D waste recycling programs; and

• Investigating technologies to convert waste to electricity.

GBB Team Expands

John Roderique, P.E. - Vice President
Mr. Roderique is re-joining GBB as a Vice President. Originally with the firm in its early years and over the past ten years as a GBB Principal Associate, he has more than 30 years experience in solid waste management consulting, manufacturing industries, and business management. He holds a M.B.A., Finance, from New York University, and a B.S., Mechanical Engineering, from Louisiana State University.

>> Press Release

Chris Lund, P.E. - Senior Project Engineer
Mr. Lund joins GBB as Sr. Project Engineer. Formerly Chief Engineer at the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, he is a key member of the GBB Guam Receivership Project Team. He has a B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

>> Press Release

Jack L. Tucker - Senior Project Manager
Mr. Tucker joins GBB as Sr. Project Manager. He has over 27 years of experience in various levels of management and administration, and is the former Director of Operations at the Department of Public Works of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He will be a key member of the GBB Guam Receivership Project Team.

>> Press Release

Camilo Restrepo - Intern
Mr. Restrepo joins the firm for the summer as part of GBB's Internship Program. Originally from Colombia, he is currently a graduate student at the University of Maryland pursuing a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering. A Fulbright Scholar, he has a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering.

>> Press Release

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