Guam Sen. Sabina Perez introduced a bill that would give the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broader authority to respond to environmental emergencies and carry out its regulatory duties.
Perez introduced Bill 132-38 this week, calling it a necessary update to the rules governing the Environmental Trust Fund, which hasn't been revised since 2002.
The measure would allow Guam EPA to tap into the fund for a wider range of activities, like enforcing clean air and water laws, managing solid and hazardous waste, and supporting climate resilience planning. It would also remove a $5,000 cap on emergency spending, enabling faster response to incidents like chemical spills or illegal dumping.
"Modern climate impacts and ecological threats require constant updates to Guam's environmental laws, to ensure that our agencies are equipped to successfully respond to emergencies and mitigate potential harms," Perez said in a statement.
To increase oversight, the bill also requires Guam EPA to submit annual reports detailing revenue, spending, and fund balances to both the governor and the Guam Legislature.
