EPA Orders Cabras Marine to End Sloppy Hazardous Waste Management, Preventing Spills into Apra Harbor

EPA Orders Cabras Marine to End Sloppy Hazardous Waste Management, Preventing Spills into Apra Harbor

October 21, 2025

PITI, Guam (Oct. 22, 2025) - Today, under the authority of the Clean Water Act, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing an Order issued to the Cabras Marine Corporation to improve deficient operations and maintenance of their ship repair facility in Guam. Under the agreement, Cabras Marine will make various facility improvements to protect Apra Harbor.

"EPA will take action under federal law when we see a facility mismanaging waste that puts at risk human health and the environment," said EPA Pacific Southwest Region Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Amy Miller. "This agreement will strengthen protection of coral reef and aquatic life in Guam."

Cabras Marine operates a ship repair and maintenance facility located on Apra Harbor. On February 6, 2025, EPA conducted an inspection at the facility and found sand blast debris spilling out of the containment structure, with potential release of the debris into the stormwater and Apra Harbor. Additionally, there was a large accumulation of oily and hazardous waste materials, such as oxidizers and flammable materials, improperly labeled and incompatibly stored together. This practice posed a fire risk. During the investigation, EPA identified the buildup and improper storage of waste material as an ongoing issue for the facility since as early as 2017.

Under the Administrative Order on Consent being announced today, Cabras Marine has agreed to:

• Remove and properly dispose of all accumulated oily waste and hazardous waste.
• Construct new storage units to safely store the accumulating hazardous waste, with proper labeling and organization, and install a secondary containment system for spill prevention.
• Conduct inspections of the facility at least twice a month.
• Conduct worker training on proper storage, containment, and handling of hazardous waste.
• Complete a technical evaluation for the collection, storage and disposal of the ships oily wastewater (bilge).

Cabras Marine Corporation can continue daily operations at the facility as it follows the order.

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