Category Archives: State Government

Overnight work continues on Interstate 17 south of Camp Verde

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Overnight work on Interstate 17 continues in both directions as part of a repaving project on a 12-mile segment between State Route 169 and the Middle Verde Road traffic interchange just south of Camp Verde (mileposts 279 to 291).

Crews are working this week on the barrier at the Middle Verde traffic interchange above I-17 and the roadway will be narrowed to one lane through the work zone between mileposts 289 and 290.

Intermittent shoulder closures are expected for miscellaneous work. Minimal delays are expected. Work hours are Monday through Thursday between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night.

This $7.5 million project consists of the removal of a layer of the existing pavement, repaving the roadway, bridge work and shoulder improvements. Work is expected to be complete by the end of September.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Overhead sign installation continues on westbound I-40 east of I-17 Junction in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Department of Transportation continues work to install an overhead electronic message sign on westbound Interstate 40 (milepost 197), just east of the I-17 junction south of Flagstaff.

Electronic message signs span the width of the freeway and are used by ADOT to help keep drivers informed of traffic, road and weather conditions.

Monday (Aug. 31) through Wednesday (Sept. 2), westbound I-40 will be narrowed to one lane (milepost 197) while crews continue work on an overhead electronic message sign. Work will take place daily from 6 a.m. to noon. Please observe reduced speeds and exercise caution while traveling through the work zone.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Sept. 2 and 3 and Sept. 9 and 10

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SUPERIOR — Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, for the next two weeks, need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix. The closures are scheduled for Sept. 2 and 3 and the following week for Sept. 9 and 10.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require a full closure of US 60 for up to 90 minutes from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 2 and 3.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

ADOT anticipates the highway will be closed at least once per week for blasting for up to three months. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long.

The $8.8 million safety improvement project will make it easier for motorists to pass large trucks and slow-moving vehicles whose speed drops because of the sustained grades along this stretch of highway from Devil’s Canyon to the Oak Flat area.

The project will include the following:

  • Construction of a new westbound passing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233)
  • Widening shoulders in the Devil’s Canyon area (milepost 233-234)
  • Improvements to the Waterfall Canyon bridge (milepost 229)
  • Box culvert drainage improvements (milepost 242 just west of Miami)

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

Big Park Wastewater Treatment Plant Pollutant Discharge renewal permit

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PROPOSED ARIZONA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (AZPDES) RENEWAL PERMIT

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act and in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-9-A907, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) proposes to issue an Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit to discharge pollutants to Waters of the United States to the following applicant, subject to certain effluent limitations and special conditions:

Public Notice No. 16-09 Published on August 28, 2015
Published in the Verde Independent

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0024082
Big Park Domestic Wastewater Improvement District (DWID)
Big Park Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
117 E. Gurley Street, #206
Prescott, AZ 86301

The Big Park Domestic DWID applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 0.7 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Big Park WWTP to an unnamed wash, tributary to Jacks Canyon Wash in the Verde River Basin in Township 16 N, Range 6 E, Section 19, in Yavapai County, Arizona. The Big Park WWTP is a privately owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential sources in Big Park. Sludge is hauled to sludge drying beds off-site to Greywolf Landfill in Dewey, Arizona for disposal. Variances from the Verde River standards for nitrogen and phosphorus are proposed in the draft permit.

The permit and fact sheet may be viewed online here by typing the permit number in the box left of “Search Event”. The public notice and related documentation also are available for public review, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85007. In Phoenix, please call (602) 771-4380 or e-mail recordscenter@azdeq.gov 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the file.

Persons may submit comments or request a public hearing on the proposed action in writing, to Jacqueline Maye, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1110 W. Washington St., 5415B-3, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. All written comments received by ADEQ by the close of business on the date 30 days after publication of this notice will be considered in the final permit decision. A public hearing request must be in writing and must include the reasons for such request. If there is a significant degree of public interest, the Director will hold a hearing in accordance with A.A.C. R18-9-A908(B).

Work continues on the expansion of US 93 north of Wickenburg

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WICKENBURG — For the past three weeks, crews have been paving the new lanes on US 93 north of Wickenburg between mileposts 185 and 190. Work on the new roadway will continue through the end of September. While the project has not been impactful to motorists, drivers need to be aware of trucks entering and exiting the project site at much slower speeds.

Once the new roadway is paved, crews will switch traffic to the new lanes in order to replace pavement on the existing lanes in early October.

Drivers traveling tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 28, need to be aware of the increased weekend traffic and use extra caution around construction equipment and personnel working to pave the new roadway from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Normal work hours are 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

ADOT began this expansion project in February to widen US 93 between State Route 71 and State Route 89. The $12.5 million project, reconstructing the highway into four lanes, is expected to be completed in November.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations, and to proceed through the work zone with caution and comply with the reduced speed limit.

7th Annual Free Electronic Waste Recycling Event in Show Low

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SHOW LOW — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Navajo County and City of Show Low officials will host the 7th annual free electronic waste (e-waste) recycling event for White Mountains region residents Saturday, August 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Navajo County Penrod Facility, 251 N. Penrod Rd., Show Low – east side, just south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and Arizona Highway 77.

ADEQ and partners – City of Show Low, Navajo County, Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, White Mountain Apache Tribe Environmental Protection Office, Northland Pioneer College, and E-Waste Harvesters of Phoenix – anticipate collecting tons of e-waste including unwanted televisions, computer equipment, monitors, batteries, chargers, cell phones, VCRs, CD and DVD players, printers, small appliances, fax machines, stereos, cables, and cords. Limit two televisions or computer monitors per vehicle.

“We’re pleased to collaborate with ADEQ and our other partners again this year to bring the annual e-waste collection event to the White Mountains,” said Steve North, business development coordinator for the City of Show Low. “This event continues to grow in popularity and we look to this 7th annual installment to be the biggest and best yet.”

Officials encourage all White Mountains area residents and businesses to bring their electronic recyclables to the event, including residents of the nearby White Mountain Apache Tribe, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Snowflake, Taylor, St. Johns, Springerville, Eagar, Concho, Vernon, Alpine, Nutrioso, Greer, Shumway, Heber-Overgaard, Pinedale, Clay Springs and Linden.

“We are very excited about ADEQ’s 7th annual e-waste recycling event,” said ADEQ Recycling Coordinator J.B. Shaw. “This is a great opportunity for people in the area to dispose of all the unwanted electronics they have collected over the years while at the same time ensuring that this potentially toxic stream of waste is disposed of responsibly.”

E-Waste Harvesters will erase all hard drives with state of the art software, recycle all materials in accordance with state and federal regulations and provides individuals donating e-waste a certificate of disposal upon request.

ADEQ has partnered with communities in more than 100 events statewide since establishing its e-waste recycling program in August 2009. To date, more than 2.6 million pounds of discarded electronics have been collected and properly disposed.

ADEQ: Update on Colorado Gold King Mine Spill

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animas-river-before-and-after-epa-toxic-waste-spillPHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today it has examined data provided by states upstream of Lake Powell and closer to the Gold King Mine spill. ADEQ’s analysis of data released by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality of samples collected about 100 miles from Lake Powell (closest Utah sample) shows that water quality conditions in the San Juan River upstream of Lake Powell are generally consistent with pre-spill conditions. “Based on what we’re seeing with the water flowing into Lake Powell, we don’t expect there to be noticeable change in water quality in Arizona,” ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera said.

“To put this spill into perspective, the three million gallon estimated volume of the spill represents a miniscule fraction of a percent (0.000071 percent) of the total volume of water in Lake Powell (more than four trillion gallons as of July 29, 2015) Cabrera said, adding that ADEQ does not expect this spill to have short- or long-term negative impacts to Lake Powell and the downstream Colorado River.”

ADEQ has been and will continue coordinating with public health and environmental agencies in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, as well as with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Navajo Nation officials to gather, analyze and share water quality data with each other and the public as it becomes available. Beginning August 14, these officials began lifting water use restrictions for the Animas and San Juan Rivers, because water quality conditions are returning to pre-spill conditions.

Last week ADEQ completed sampling to characterize baseline water quality in Lake Powell and the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry and submitted these samples for analysis with the fastest possible turnaround time. ADEQ expects to receive lab results later today, Monday, August 17, which it will compare with Arizona surface water quality standards and historical data.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Aug. 19

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Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe on Wednesday morning, Aug. 19, need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require a full closure of US 60 for up to 90 minutes from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 19.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

ADOT anticipates the highway will be closed at least once per week for blasting for up to three months. As blasting continues there will be a lesser impact on traffic and delays will be reduced.

The $8.8 million safety improvement project will make it easier for motorists to pass large trucks and slow-moving vehicles whose speed drops because of the sustained grades along this stretch of highway from Devil’s Canyon to the Oak Flat area.

The project will include the following:

Construction of a new westbound passing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233)
Widening shoulders in the Devil’s Canyon area (milepost 233-234)
Improvements to the Waterfall Canyon bridge (milepost 229)
Box culvert drainage improvements (milepost 242 just west of Miami)

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

ADEQ Hosts Free Environmental Roadshow in Winslow

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Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and partners, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Adopt a Highway Volunteer Programs and Keep Arizona Beautiful (KAZB), will conduct an “Environmental Resources Roadshow” in Navajo County on Tuesday, August 25, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Winslow Council Chambers, 115 E. Second St., Winslow.

ADEQ encourages community members, business people, public officials, and school representatives in Winslow, and the surrounding area to attend this free two-hour event. Following brief presentations, attendees can engage in open dialogue and a question and answer session.
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The Gila Watershed Partnership seeks Executive Director

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ADEQ logo resizedThe Gila Watershed Partnership, a non-profit Arizona corporation, seeks an experienced Executive Director. The ED serves as the chief executive for the organization, and provides leadership and direction to the staff. The ED reports to the GWP Board of Directors, and is responsible for assisting and implementing the organization’s strategic plan. The goals of GWP are to help conserve and enhance the natural resources and the environment of the watershed for all users, to help increase and improve water quantity and quality and to help plan and act to avoid and minimize damage from large storms, floods, and other natural disasters.
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