Category Archives: State Government

Public Notice – Verrado WRF draft AZPDES permit (AZ0026794)

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PROPOSED ARIZONA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (AZPDES) NEW 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. 16-01 Published on Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Published on the Northern Arizona Gazette

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0026794
EPCOR Water Arizona, Inc.
Verrado Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)
2355 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite 300
Phoenix, Arizona 85027

EPCOR Water Arizona, Inc. applied for a new AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 0.83 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Verrado WRF to an unlisted tributary, eventual tributary to the Gila River in the Middle Gila River Basin in Township 2 N, Range 2 W, Section 30, in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Verrado WRF is a privately owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources in Verrado. Sewage sludge is sent to a municipal solid waste landfill for disposal.

The permit and fact sheet may be viewed online at http://www.azdeq.gov/cgi-bin/vertical.pl 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).

Two youths suffer minor injuries from elk encounter

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Elk_-_Trash_Lid_-_Large_1KINGMAN — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been informing people for years about the dangers of feeding wildlife. Last week, Mohave County Parks reported that two youths suffered minor injuries that likely were the result of elk seeking human food.

The encounter, which took place in Hualapai Mountain Park, involved a family at a picnic table. A group of elk approached the family and encircled the table. The two youths, a boy and girl, were injured by the hooves. The girl suffered a bloody nose and minor injuries to the forehead and lower leg, while the boy suffered a bump to the forehead.

“They were not feeding the animals, but this encounter was clearly the result of past behaviors of the public.”” said Zen Mocarski, information and education program manager for the department’s regional office in Kingman.

“The family tried to keep the table between themselves and the elk, but the elk continued to move around the family,” said Brandon Oktay, park superintendent. “The park is a place to visit and enjoy, and I’m disappointed this family had to experience something like this. Those children were frightened, but the parents declined medical assistance and the injuries appear to be minor, which is the good news.”

“While I’m sure the children were scared, this could have turned out worse,” Mocarski said. “Elk are large, wild animals, but some people continue to treat them like pets. It is a bit disheartening to hear about the circumstances surrounding this encounter, because Game and Fish has been warning the public of the dangers of feeding wild animals for many years.”

Mocarski said feeding issues in the community near the park have been severe despite warnings. In 2007, two elk needed to have trash can lids removed from their necks, which prompted the park to replace the type of lids on the cans and posted signs not to feed wildlife.

In 2005, two deer in two days were killed by a lion in driveways within the community, which prompted Game and Fish to post warning signs. There’s also the possibility of disease transmission when wildlife exist in unnaturally high densities in such a small area. Some diseases, such as Chronic Wasting Disease, are transmitted through saliva, so feeding from the same food source can decimate herds.

In 1995, two dozen deer, apparently starving, were killed at the Grand Canyon. Following a necropsy, it was found the deer had lost their ability to digest vegetation due to being hooked on junk food. Mocarski said the common link is humans feeding wildlife.

“The message is stop feeding wildlife,” Mocarski said. “Wild animals are supposed to disperse and forage, but some people mistakenly believe the animals need assistance. Feeding wildlife is not an act of selflessness, it’s a selfish act that has now resulted in two children getting injured. This has to stop.”

There is a statewide ordinance against feeding wildlife, but it only applies to counties with populations of 280,000 or more, including Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. The best practice for those wishing to see or help wildlife is to plant native vegetation.

“The bottom line is that things like chips or pretzels, which are not particularly good for humans, are certainly not good for wildlife,” Mocarski said. “Neither are the hay bales visible throughout the community. Allow these animals to forage naturally. They should have a natural fear of humans, not expect a handout.”

Overnight work continues on Interstate 17 south of Camp Verde this week

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CAMP VERDE — Overnight paving work will continue this week on Interstate 17 just south of Camp Verde (mileposts 280 to 286) between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. starting tonight, July 6 through Wednesday, July 15.

Northbound I-17 will be narrowed to one lane at milepost 280, approximately one and half miles north of the State Route 169 junction and drivers will be guided through the work zone with a pilot car for the protection of workers and the traveling public. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

Work hours are Sunday 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 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.

No state highway construction closures over Independence weekend

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PHOENIX — As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, state and local agencies are focusing efforts on promoting safety along the busy highways, including Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Camp Verde, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT and its contractors will not schedule construction closures along state highways between Thursday afternoon and late Sunday night. Drivers are urged to use caution over the weekend, especially in areas that have been narrowed due to existing work zones.

As they have done over recent major holiday weekends, ADOT, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety will team with local first responders on the state’s “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” safe-driving campaign.

While pointing out that drivers hold the key to safety, state officials stress the importance of being patient, obeying speed limits, buckling up and avoiding distractions. While the holiday weekend safety campaign is underway, DPS will place an emphasis on speed enforcement, especially during the busy Thursday and Sunday afternoon travel periods.

ADOT’s I-17 overhead message boards will be used to post safety and highway-condition messages. Highway crews also are staging equipment such as front loaders and utility trucks at strategic locations along the highway, including the Outlets at Anthem mall and the Sunset Point Rest Area. The equipment will allow crews to respond as soon as possible if crashes or disabled vehicles need to be cleared.

Existing work zone locations along state highways include State Route 260 about 20 miles east of Payson, where traffic is shifted to single lanes in each direction for a bridge-improvement project. Interstate 40 west of the State Route 89 junction near Ash Fork also is narrowed to one lane in each direction for bridge work.

Drivers are urged to check their vehicles, including tire pressure, and get a good night’s rest before heading out on a trip. Motorists also are urged to:

  • Buckle up
  • Obey speed limits
  • Avoid the busiest travel times if possible
  • Never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver in advance
  • Be prepared for unexpected closures during warmer weather and possible thunderstorms
  • Pack extra drinking water and snack foods in case traffic is stopped due to a crash or disabled vehicle up ahead

State agencies also will work with the Black Canyon City and Daisy Mountain fire departments as part of the I-17 safety corridor campaign. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with local law enforcement agencies on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign.

Last year in Arizona, nine people were killed in a total of seven fatal crashes along highways and local streets over the Independence Day weekend. The sobering figures were higher during the holiday weekend in 2013, when 16 people died in 15 fatal crashes across the state.

You can check on statewide highway conditions on ADOT’s Travel Advisory site at az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1 (within Arizona). Traffic information also is available on ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT).

ADOT completes widening of another US 93 section

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PHOENIX — For the past two decades, the Arizona Department of Transportation has made the US 93 corridor a priority, by methodically turning what was once a two-lane rural roadway into a modern four-lane divided highway along the primary travel route for Phoenix motorists headed to Las Vegas and a vital corridor for trade and commerce.

This past weekend, ADOT completed another widened section of US 93, approximately 20 miles north of Wikieup and moved one step closer to the agency’s ultimate goal of transforming the entire 200-mile stretch from Wickenburg to the Hoover Dam bypass bridge into a modern, four-lane divided highway.

The completed $20 million project widened the three-mile-long Antelope Wash segment of US 93 (mileposts 101-104), which included building two new southbound lanes and reconstructing the two northbound lanes to tie into the new roadway configuration.

This was one of two US 93 widening projects ADOT has been working on this year. In February, ADOT launched another expansion project along US 93 between state routes 71 and 89 (mileposts 185-190), just north of Wickenburg. The $12.5 million project will include converting the roadway from two lanes to four lanes and is expected to be completed in 2016.

Since 1998, ADOT has invested more than $350 million in projects to upgrade the US 93 corridor, which stretches from Kingman to the Nevada state line and Wickenburg to Interstate 40 (a 23-mile segment of I-40 east of Kingman connects the north and south sections of US 93).

Currently, all but 46 miles of the 200-mile drive (more than 75 percent) from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line has been upgraded to a four-lane divided highway in an effort to improve traffic flow, support the movement of freight and enhance safety through this heavily traveled area. The entire northern segment of US 93 from Kingman to the Nevada state line (mileposts 1-68) is now a four-lane divided highway following the completion of a $71 million project in 2010.

Widening project on US 93 north of Wickenburg will affect traffic next week

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WICKENBURG — For the past several months, a five-mile widening project on US 93 approximately three miles north of Wickenburg has been under way. Next week, beginning on Tuesday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 1, crews will be working on the existing roadway of US 93 at both ends of the project (mileposts 185 and 190) which will require a single lane restriction between 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected. US 93 runs north and south, not east and west as previously mentioned.

Crews will place temporary concrete barrier, shift the traffic lanes and restripe the roadway so they can continue the widening project. Drivers will be in this temporary configuration for the next three months. An 11-foot width restriction will be in place during that time.

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.

Overnight paving work on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley this weekend

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CHINO VALLEY — Overnight paving work has been scheduled on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley this weekend starting Friday night, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, weather permitting. Work will take place on the south end of the project at the new Deep Well Ranch Road roundabout.

Motorists traveling on SR 89 between 4 p.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 (no impacts on Friday night) should allow extra travel time through the work zone. A detour will be in place redirecting traffic in both directions onto the new Deep Well Ranch Road to Ruger Road.

Delays of up to 15 minutes at a time are expected. Flaggers and law enforcement will be present to guide motorists through the detour safely.

Upon completion of the $17 million project, ADOT will expand the two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided highway along a five-mile segment of SR 89 (mileposts 320-325) between Road 4 South in Chino Valley and Deep Well Ranch Road in Prescott, just north of the SR 89/SR 89A junction. The project is scheduled to be complete by August.

Drivers are reminded to ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive’ this monsoon season

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PHOENIX — Where will you be when the dust settles?

That’s a question the Arizona Department of Transportation is asking motorists this year as another summer monsoon season begins.

For the fourth consecutive year, ADOT is rolling out its “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm public awareness campaign in an ongoing effort to educate drivers about the year-round threat of dust storms as monsoon season officially begins in Arizona today. Dust storms pose a serious public safety risk because they can strike out of nowhere. Motorists can protect themselves if they plan ahead and know the safe actions to take when the dust hits.

This year, ADOT – and partners at the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service – has created new television and radio public-education announcements that ask drivers if they know what to do if they get caught in a sudden dust storm event. The new TV public service announcement depicts a young driver following all the safety recommendations when she sees a dust storm while driving along a highway.

ADOT’s mission is to provide useful and memorable safety information to drivers before they get caught in a low-visibility dust storm. This year, the agency’s top recommendation is to avoid driving into a wall of dust at all costs.

“We hope motorists have heard the message that driving into a dust storm is dangerous and should be avoided,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “But every day we have new-to-Arizona drivers, and young drivers, who may not yet know about ‘Pull Aside, Stay Alive.’ If you know a new driver, take a moment to remind them about dust storm safety.”

Halikowski added, “As the monsoon arrives, this year we’re asking drivers to do the smart thing, the safe thing and plan ahead for possible blowing dust and limited visibility along the highway. It’s better to alter travel plans rather than attempting to drive through dust storms. It’s a risk you don’t have to take.”

Dust storms develop quickly and dust-related crashes can occur, particularly along the Interstate 10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson. To advise drivers of approaching storms, ADOT employs a range of strategies – including electronic highway message boards, social and traditional media, communication with ADOT staff and law enforcement officers in the field, television and radio advertising, and close coordination with partnering agencies – to keep information flowing to motorists.

Please visit PullAsideStayAlive.org for the new public-education video, along with videos from past years. The website also includes a safety tip sheet.

During Arizona Monsoon Awareness Week, ADOT will be using social media to engage Arizonans in spreading the word to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.” In addition to blog posts (azdot.gov/media/blog) and Facebook posts (Facebook.com/AZDOT), the “Haboob Haiku Challenge” is back for a fourth year at twitter.com/ArizonaDOT: use #HaboobHaiku. Anyone can channel their inner poet, but this year ADOT is asking the public to show off their creativity by providing poems about safe driving tips in dust storms.

Tips for drivers who encounter a dust storm:

  • Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
  • If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
  • Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
  • Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
  • Stop your vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
  • Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
  • Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds in high wind.
  • A driver’s alertness and safe driving ability are always the top factors in preventing crashes. It is your responsibility to avoid distracted or impaired driving.

Overnight work on Interstate 17 continues south of Camp Verde this week

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CAMP VERDE — Overnight paving work continues this week on Interstate 17 just south of Camp Verde (mileposts 280 to 286) between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Wednesday, June 24 through July 9.

Northbound I-17 will be narrowed to one lane and drivers will be guided through the work zone with a pilot car for the protection of workers and the traveling public. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected.

Crews will not work on Thursday, July 2 or Sunday, July 5 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

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 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.

Work scheduled on I-17 near McGuireville rest area this week

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Maintenance work will resume at the McGuireville rest area on Interstate 17 this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23 and 24, approximately two miles south of the State Route 179 junction (mileposts 294 to 299).

Drivers can expect a single lane restriction in both directions during work hours from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Minimal delays expected.

The rest areas will remain open.