Category Archives: Phoenix

Governor Ducey Proclaims Arizona Pollution Prevention Week Sept. 18 – 24, 2016

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that Governor Douglas A. Ducey has designated the week of September 18 – 24 by proclamation as Arizona Pollution Prevention (P2) Week. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the ADEQ P2 Program encourages the general public, schools, local governments and businesses to be a part of Arizona P2 Week and learn about steps we all can incorporate in our daily routines to prevent and reduce waste, improve the health of our communities and environment, and elevate our standard of living.

Governor Ducey noted that “National Pollution Prevention Week” is an opportunity for government and the private sector to focus attention on how P2 saves businesses and taxpayers money and conserves Arizona’s natural resources for future generations.

“As one of our nation’s first Pollution Prevention Programs, ADEQ’s P2 Program benefits both our participants and our state by supporting production processes that improve environmental quality and economic competitiveness,” ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera said. “Now in our 25th year, we’re demonstrating that ADEQ’s P2 Program in Arizona is creating an environment in which new processes and technologies are helping industry to reduce pollution while also enhancing operational efficiency and business productivity.”

To celebrate and increase public awareness, each weekday during P2 Week, ADEQ will share valuable information, tools and resources via Facebook, Twitter and our website, focusing each day on one P2 source reduction theme including trash, transportation, food, energy and water, and air.

ADEQ also will host two free webinars that showcase real-world examples of how ADEQ P2 Program participants have reduced waste and pollution, increased efficiency and saved money. Arizona businesses meeting any one of three P2 thresholds (http://www.azdeq.gov/p2_thresholds) are required to create and implement a plan to minimize the use of toxic substances and/or generation of hazardous waste. P2 webinar topics will include P2 Program facilities’ environmental achievements in the areas of reducing solid and hazardous waste generation, toxic substance use substitution and reduction, reducing energy and water consumption, and industry best management practices. In addition, ADEQ will provide an overview of its Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP), including participant benefits.

ADEQ encourages Arizona businesses and the interested public to register for the following P2 Week free webinars:

Tues, Sept. 20, 2016 – 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (MST)
P2 Webinar Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4940255654047033347
Presenters: Ping, Inc., Grand Canyon Railway and United Dairymen of Arizona

Wed, Sept. 21, 2016 – 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (MST)
P2 Webinar Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2264067441784591874
Presenters: Boeing Mesa, Intel Ocotillo and ADEQ VESP

View the Arizona Pollution Prevention Week proclamation and learn more about the ADEQ P2 Program and National Pollution Prevention Week by visiting:

http://azdeq.gov/p2_proclamation_2016
http://www.azdeq.gov/programs/waste-programs/pollution-prevention-p2-planning-program
http://www2.epa.gov/p2week

Going to a Motor Vehicle Division office? You may not have to

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PHOENIX — Want to avoid lines at MVD offices? Chances are good that you can take care of business online instead.

According to data collected by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division, 51 percent of the transactions that happen in MVD offices every business day could be done online instead. These range from very common transactions such as renewing a vehicle registration or replacing a driver license/identification card to smaller but still important things such as getting a decal for an off-road vehicle or a customer refund.

“Imagine if the MVD offices had 51 percent fewer transactions to handle,” Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen said. “That would mean fewer people who need to make a trip to get services that are just a click away on a computer or smartphone, and it would reduce wait times for those who need to do business in the offices.”

Including those listed above, there are many MVD services that can be easily done through ServiceArizona.com, such as address and email changes, ordering a personalized or specialty license plate, voter registration, obtaining a copy of your motor vehicle record, renewing a disability placard, insurance verification, sold notices and many more. For a complete list, please go to ServiceArizona.com.

“People are a lot more comfortable using the web for all kinds of transactions that just weren’t done years ago,” Jorgensen added. “MVD is ahead of the curve online, and we welcome more Arizonans to check out ServiceArizona.com to see if they can get their needs handled there because it’s increasingly likely they can.”

Wildcats, Sun Devils, Lumberjacks sport specialty plates

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narrower_originalPHOENIX — Universities are back in session, football season is underway and school spirit is in the air ‒ and on many vehicle bumpers.

More and more alumni and other fans are showcasing school colors with specialty plates offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division. In the process, they’re raising hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for scholarships.

University specialty plates ‒ red and blue for the University of Arizona, maroon and gold for Arizona State University and blue and white for Northern Arizona University ‒ generated three-quarters of a million dollars for scholarships during the fiscal year that ended June 30. Drivers purchased or renewed about 44,000 of these plates during that time.

Vehicle owners pay $25 annually for specialty plates, with $17 of that amount going to sponsoring charities and nonprofits. Getting one is as easy as visiting ServiceArizona.com.

Melinda Burke, UA Alumni Association president, said the plates are a great way to show Wildcat pride.

“Coupled with that, the purchase of an “A” plate provides scholarship monies for UA students who are Arizona residents, so it is a feel-good way to support the university,” Burke said.

The current UA plate, used since 2012, showcases the school’s signature “A.” Nearly 24,000 UA plates graced bumpers around the state last fiscal year, including the previous design featuring Wilbur the Wildcat.

ASU’s current specialty plate is gold with maroon type and features Sparky the Sun Devil, though some vehicles may have a white plate with a similar design that was sold until 2010. The nearly 18,000 ASU specialty plates purchased or renewed last fiscal year funded Medallion Scholarships for top Arizona high school seniors, according to Tracy Scott, ASU Alumni Association marketing director.

“We’ve seen an increase (in sales) since the plate was redesigned in 2010,” Scott said.

Since 2010, NAU’s specialty plate has featured the school’s snowflake-and-pine logo, but some with the older plate design featuring Louie the Lumberjack are still around. Alumni and fans purchased or renewed about 2,700 of the plates during the last fiscal year.

The dozens of specialty plates available through MVD generated $6.9 million last fiscal year for causes and charities supporting veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and more. That’s a 9 percent increase from the year before.

Grand Canyon University alumni and fans may soon be able to show their support. The Arizona State Legislature earlier this year authorized creating a specialty plate featuring that school.

Public input essential as South Mountain Freeway moves toward construction

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PHOENIX — Thirteen years of public involvement helped shape plans for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. With the Arizona Department of Transportation preparing to begin construction along the 22-mile corridor, the community can continue providing feedback and seeking information by attending meetings, connecting online and using other resources.

“As with any project, our goals are informing and listening to the public,” said Rob Samour, ADOT senior deputy director of major projects. “The South Mountain Freeway is a critical project for the region, and there are many opportunities for the public to stay engaged as we start construction and look forward to opening the freeway corridor by the end of 2019.”800south-mountain-freeway-graphicBeginning later this month, ADOT will hold three public meetings to provide details and seek input on preliminary design plans:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 27, Desert Vista High School, Multipurpose Room, 16440 S. 32nd St., Phoenix
  • Wednesday, Sept. 28, Betty Fairfax High School, Multipurpose Room, 8225 S. 59th Ave., Laveen
  • Thursday, Oct. 6, Fowler Elementary School, Multipurpose Room, 6707 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix

All meetings are scheduled for 6-8 p.m., with presentations beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The meetings will provide information on the freeway’s location, profile, interchange configurations and noise barrier locations, as well as initial concepts for landscaping and visual appearance. The preliminary design has been updated since it was circulated for public comment along with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2013.

More public meetings will be held later this year to share final design and construction plans and to provide more information on what to expect during construction.

Construction is set to begin Monday, Sept. 12, with crews widening the shoulders from Pecos Road near 48th Street to the I-10/Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) interchange. Work will also include the extension of the existing Loop 202 HOV lanes. This initial phase of work will be completed prior to the construction of the mainline freeway, which is scheduled to begin in early 2017.

As part of its commitment to public involvement, ADOT is seeking input from anyone with an interest in the freeway. There are several ways to do so:

  1. Online: azdot.gov/SouthMountainFreeway
  2. Email: SouthMountainFreewayInfo@c202p.com
  3. Phone: 1.855.SMF.L202 (1.855.763.5202), or para Español, 623.239.4558
  4. The latest project information is available via the project website at azdot.gov/SouthMountainFreeway, email and text updates (click “Subscribe for Updates” on the project website), the project hotline numbers (1.855.763.5202, or para Español, 623.239.4558) and newspaper advertising.

Extensive public input, including feedback provided by the South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team that met from 2001 to 2013, informed the study behind the South Mountain Freeway, including

  • identifying more than 30 alternative alignments.
  • helping determine interchange locations.
  • recommending ways to reduce the right of way required.
  • proposing ways to minimize other impacts.
  • suggesting design options.

During the Draft Environmental Impact Statement phase, ADOT collected and recorded more than 8,000 public, agency and stakeholder comments.

The 22-mile freeway, expected to open by late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/SouthMountainFreeway.

Mexico wolf pair welcomes third litter of wild-born pups

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mexican-wolfPHOENIX — Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) recently reported the sighting of four wild-born Mexican wolf pups in the state of Chihuahua. The pups represent the third consecutive year that the mated pair M1215 and F1033 has produced offspring.

With the birth of this litter, Mexico’s Mexican wolf population in the wild has reached 21 animals, according to CONANP.

“Arizona wishes to congratulate Mexico on their recent successes toward the recovery of Mexican wolves in their historical habitat and offer our continued support of their efforts,” said Jim deVos, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s assistant director of wildlife management. “The vast majority of historical habitat for the Mexican wolf is in Mexico, so their efforts and successes provide a significant contribution to the recovery of the subspecies.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has collaborated with Mexican experts to develop a habitat suitability evaluation that will assist CONANP in planning future recovery efforts in Mexico.

Arizona Game and Fish has been actively involved in a multi-agency effort to reintroduce Mexican wolves to portions of the Southwest since the 1980s.

Applications sought for Arizona Game and Fish Commission

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PHOENIX — The Governor’s Office is currently accepting applications for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Applications must be received or postmarked no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. Applications received or postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.

Governor Doug Ducey is seeking members who are well-informed and passionate about Arizona wildlife and its long-term conservation. In accordance with Arizona law, the Game and Fish Commission is required to be politically balanced and representative of all 15 counties (i.e., no more than three commissioners may be from the same political party, and no two commissioners may be residents of the same county).

Therefore, this Commission vacancy is NOT available to registered residents of Apache, Coconino, Pima, or Yuma counties. Residents of all other counties—Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yavapai—are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals may apply by clicking here: Boards and Commissions Application.

For further information about the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and its mission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission. Individuals also may contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449.

Paper applications for 2017 spring hunts now being accepted

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the “2017 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Bison and Bear Hunt Draw Information” online at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

The department now is accepting paper applications for 2017 spring hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for spring turkey, javelina, bison and bear. The online application service is expected to be available in early to mid-September.

Paper applications can be mailed: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052, or dropped off at any department office statewide.

The deadline for all spring hunt permit-tag applications is 11:59 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. Paper applications must be received by the department by the deadline. Postmarks do not count.

The printed “2017 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Bison and Bear Hunt Draw Information” booklets are expected to be available at department offices and license dealers statewide in early September.

Applicants must possess an Arizona hunting license to apply for a spring hunt permit-tag. That license must be valid through the last day of the spring hunt permit-tag application period (Oct. 11). Licenses now are valid one year from the time of purchase. Licenses can be purchased online at https://www.azgfd.com/license, or at any department office or license dealer statewide.

As a reminder, applicants should thoroughly read and understand the appropriate regulations before submitting a hunt permit-tag application or before going afield.

No state highway construction closures over Labor Day weekend

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PHOENIX – During Labor Day weekend, state and local agencies are focusing on keeping motorists safe, and placing equipment and resources along heavily traveled highways to help move traffic should incidents occur. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its contractors won’t schedule construction closures along state highways from Friday through Monday evening.

While no closures are scheduled during the holiday weekend, travelers should be aware that existing work-zone restrictions with lane reductions will remain in place, including on eastbound Interstate 40 about 30 miles east of Kingman.

ADOT is emphasizing safety in three high-traffic zones that will receive extra enforcement and resources to minimize travel delays. Along Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, for faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles to decrease travel delays.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety will have an enhanced state trooper presence on highways, targeting impairment and dangerous driving behaviors. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with state troopers, police officers and deputy sheriffs on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign. The Labor Day Holiday DUI Task Force Campaign involves nine separate task forces statewide and 72 different law enforcement agencies. Last year, 10 people died in 10 fatal traffic collisions during the holiday weekend on Arizona’s state and local roadways.

To encourage smart driving decisions, ADOT’s overhead signs will display current traffic conditions, as well as safety messages.

Because unexpected delays can occur due to crashes and stalled vehicles, motorists traveling during the holiday weekend should:

  • Pack extra drinking water and snacks
  • Avoid the busiest travel times, if possible
  • Get plenty of rest before driving
  • Check vehicles, including tire pressure, belts and fluid levels

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Travel Information Center at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.

Dove season outlook: Expect plenty of birds

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Dove_-_White-winged_2PHOENIX — So, how’s dove hunting going to be this season?

It’s a rhetorical question in Arizona. That’s because, in any given year, an estimated 20 million to 30 million mourning doves – and another 2 million to 3 million of the bigger white-winged doves – are residing here come opening day.

“It’s going to be a good year,” said Johnathan O’Dell, a small game biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “A ‘down’ year for us is 20 million. An ‘up’ year is 30 million. I’ve never worried about doves not being here on opening day. There’s a lot of them.”

The 15-day “early” season gets underway 30 minutes before legal sunrise Thursday. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged. The possession limit is 45 mourning and white-winged in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 may be taken in any one day. Of the 45-dove possession limit, only 30 may be white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be taken in any one day. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit on the invasive Eurasian collared-dove.

O’Dell said he hopes hunters see a few more of the preferred white-winged making up their bag limit this season.

“We’re seeing big increases in white-winged doves,” O’Dell said. “They’re expanding their range, and I think that’s partially due to a lot of agricultural practices across the country. I think we have 22 states harvesting them now, compared to when there were only four or five states back in the day.

“Agriculture plays a huge part in where white-winged doves are located. They’re always looking for small grains. If we have a lot of sorghum, millet, milo, sunflowers, that kind of stuff, it really brings them in.”

The Yuma area continues to be the premier destination for what some hunters consider to be the best wing-shooting action north of Argentina. Banners welcome hunters. Yuma’s motels, restaurants and sporting goods stores look forward to doing a brisk business over the next two weeks. It has been estimated that dove hunters pump up to $5 million into the city’s economy.

A new attraction this year: The inaugural World Championship Dove Cook-off, which takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center. For more information, visit www.yumadovehunting.com.

For everything else “dove,” visit www.azgfd.gov/dove. Also, check out O’Dell’s video demonstrating two techniques for field-dressing doves.

Dove hunters play an important role in conservation. Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) funds are comprised of excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment (including 11 percent on ammunition), the benefit of which comes right back to Arizona for habitat improvements, shooting ranges, boating access and more.

10 Tips for safe, responsible OHV riding during Labor Day weekend

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DSC_4103_-_reduced_flippedPHOENIX — With the Labor Day weekend days away, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds residents and visitors looking to head outdoors on their off-highway vehicle (OHV) to do so safely and responsibly.

AZGFD officers and partner agencies will be seeking unsafe and reckless OHV operators this holiday weekend to ensure the safety of those riding responsibly.

Between July 1, 2015 and June 30, AZGFD officers issued 404 citations and issued 283 warnings statewide for multiple offences, including failing to have a current OHV decal sticker, allowing children under the age of 18 to ride without a helmet and made arrests for operating/driving while under the influence.

Before hitting the trail, the AZGFD asks all operators and passengers to pledge to ride safely by following these 10 tips:

Always wear a helmet. Whether riding in a side-by-side, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or dirt bike, all riders younger than 18 years old are legally required to wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Helmets are strongly recommended for all riders older than 18.
Eye protection is legally required for all riders if the OHV is not equipped with a windshield.
Wear proper clothing, including riding gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, pants and over-the-ankle boots.
Supervise children under 16 years old. Be sure young riders use an age-appropriate vehicle. Adult-sized machines may be too large and powerful for a child to safely operate. Adults are responsible for a child’s safety when it comes to OHV use.
Only ride with the number of passengers for which the machine is designed. One of the biggest causes of OHV-related injuries is riding with more than the recommended number of passengers. ProperTV riding techniques require operators to shift their weight and change position to keep control of the machine. Carrying a more passengers than recommended by the manufacturer greatly changes how the vehicle responds.
Stay on designated trails. One of the biggest threats to sustainable OHV recreation in Arizona is the closure of riding areas due to irresponsible use. Protect the state’s fragile natural resources, and your ability to visit such spots, by staying on designated trails and avoiding sensitive habitat areas.
Be prepared and equipped. Take area maps and guides, and have a compass, first aid kit, whistle, tire repair kit, tow rope or chain and other basic tools on hand. Also make sure to bring sunscreen, water and food.
Avoid drinking alcohol and/or drugs. Operating any vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is always illegal, regardless of what type of vehicle you’re operating. Alcohol and drugs drastically impair a person’s judgement, responsiveness and ability to operate the machine safely.
Register your OHV and purchase an OHV decal. All vehicles designed primarily for travel on unimproved terrain and weighing less than 1,800 pounds are required to have an OHV Decal to operate on public and state land. License plates and decals are available at any Arizona Motor Vehicle Division location or at www.servicearizona.com.
Maintain your machine properly, especially the spark arrester and muffler. Arresters help to protect against sparking a wildfire and mufflers help to reduce the noise emitted by OHVs.

For more information about OHV riding in Arizona, including a list of locations to ride statewide, visit www.azgfd.gov/OHV.