Supreme Court Hears Arguments OB/OD Operations in Guam
Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments recently regarding an environmental legal challenge to the U.S. Air Force's ongoing practice of utilizing open detonation to dispose of UXO on the Pacific island of Guam.
The case, Department of Air Force v. Guahan, centers on a 2021 permit renewal application submitted by the Air Force to the Guam Environmental Protection Agency. The permit allows the military to continue destroying legacy munitions, including World War II-era explosives, at an isolated beach facility on the island's northeastern coast. Environmental groups filed suit to halt the operations, arguing that the disposal site sits atop Guam's primary drinking water aquifer and holds cultural significance. The plaintiffs also contend that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Air Force to formally evaluate alternative disposal technologies and solicit public input rather than defaulting to open detonation.
