GBB to Act as Guam Landfill Overseer

Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc. (GBB), Fairfax, Va., has been appointed as receiver to achieve the Guam government’s compliance with the Clean Water Act as set forth in a consent decree.

The consent decree, signed between the government of Guam and the U.S. EPA back in 2004, orders the government of Guam to close an existing dump and open a new municipal solid waste landfill facility. Additionally, Guam must develop and implement recycling and hazardous waste strategies to reduce the volume of materials going into the landfill.

Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, chief judge of the United States District Court of Guam, issued the court order naming GBB as the receiver on March 17, 2008.

Harvey Gershman, GBB president, will be the overall officer-in-charge for this assignment. “We are honored to have been selected by the chief judge for this important assignment,” says Gershman. “This will be challenging work for all involved, and GBB is up to the task. In this assignment, GBB is responsible solely to the Court but will work closely with the elected officials, public works, financial, and other stakeholders of Guam to achieve full compliance with the terms of the consent decree in the most cost-effective and expeditious manner possible.”

Others involved for GBB include David L. Manning, GBB special principal associate, and Chace Anderson, GBB vice president, supported by other GBB resources as the project dictates, according to a GBB news release.

As receiver, GBB will have full power and authority to enforce the terms of the consent decree and assume all of the responsibilities, functions, duties, powers, and authority of the Guam Solid Waste Management Division of the Department of Public Works. Working under the guidance of the court and in consultation with the U.S. EPA and Guam EPA, GBB will review the work already performed by the government of Guam and develop and execute a plan that will provide both the financing and leadership necessary to comply with the consent decree.

The United States Territory of Guam is an island with an area of 210 square miles in the Western Pacific Ocean. Its 2007 population is estimated at more than 173,000.

GBB is a national solid waste management consulting firm that works on solid waste collection, processing, recycling and disposal issues, and assists in planning, procuring, and implementing sound, cost-effective facilities and services at the local, state, and national levels for both the public and private sectors.