The Guam Environmental Protection Agency says a shipment of gravel that's been rejected because of e-coli is a wake-up call to importers.
The shipment of South Korean granite, to be used in military and civil construction projects, was rejected mid-last month after testing positive for the e-coli bacterium.
The agency says it's been proposed to take the M V Katarina offshore and disinfect the gravel using a chlorine wash.
The importer, International Bridge Construction Marianas, is bearing the costs of re-treating the material.
The agency's environmental monitoring and analytical services division administrator, Jesse Cruz, says it's the first time in a decade a shipment has tested positive for e-coli.
"On average importations were one to three a year at the high end and now with this military build-up and the material that's going to be required for it's going to be exponentially growing. So, like I said, I'm sorry it happened to this individual company but at least it's going to be bringing more light to the requirements we have for importation and hopefully this is the last time we'll have to go through this"
Jesse Cruz of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency.
