Category Archives: State Government

2016 edition of “Hunt Arizona” now available online

Posted on by

hunt-azPHOENIX — The 2016 edition of “Hunt Arizona,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s yearly compilation of big and small game hunting statistics, is now available online at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/surveydata.

The free, downloadable, PDF publication includes draw, survey and harvest statistics for a five-year period, as well as information on distribution, life history and behavior of big game, small game and other wildlife.

The 205-page publication is easy to use and includes the latest data on units/hunts with the highest hunter success rates, hunts with the best draw odds, and historical survey and hunt information that can be used to compare trends, by unit, for the major game species.

“Hunt Arizona” is a must for both novice and experienced hunters when making informed decisions regarding hunt selections.

Edward “Pat” Madden assumes role of Game and Fish Commission chairman

Posted on by

edward-maddenPHOENIX — Edward “Pat” Madden of Flagstaff became the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s newest chair on July 1. He will lead the five-member commission for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Madden replaces Kurt R. Davis, who will continue to serve on the commission until his successor is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Each commissioner serves a five-year term that is staggered and customarily serves as chairman during their final year.

Madden, who joined the commission in 2013, has an extensive law enforcement background. He spent more than three decades working for the Flagstaff Police Department – beginning his career in 1966 as a patrolman and retiring as chief of police in 1999 – and also worked for the Arizona Department of Gaming before fully retiring in 2015.

Chairman Madden has been an active member of the Flagstaff community and has served on multiple boards and committees, including: Flagstaff Big Brothers; Flagstaff Route 66 Rotary Club; Northern Arizona Fallen Officers Memorial Committee; Flagstaff Leadership; and Citizens Against Substance Abuse. He has received numerous awards and commendations for his work and community service, including the Officer of the Year award from the Flagstaff Police Department, Outstanding Service Award from Big Brothers Flagstaff, and the Paul Harris Foundation Award from Rotary International.

“I look forward to my chairmanship and a continued productive working relationship between the commission, department and public to ensure that Arizona’s wildlife is protected, preserved, enhanced and managed,” said Madden.

He received his Master of Science degree in criminal justice and his Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern Traffic Institute in Evanston, Ill., and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

The commission oversees the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The commission establishes rules and regulations for the managing and conserving of wildlife and fisheries resources, and for safe and regulated watercraft and off-highway vehicle (OHV) operations for the benefit of Arizona residents.

AZGFD among agencies conducting OUI checkpoint on Colorado River

Posted on by

KINGMAN — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will participate in a multi-agency enforcement patrol this weekend on the Colorado River, pursuing those who are operating their boats and other watercraft while under the influence (OUI) of drugs or alcohol.

AZGFD, together with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be on the lookout for boat and watercraft operators violating the law and who are found to be above Arizona’s OUI legal limit of a .08 blood-alcohol content.

Throughout the weekend, boaters may be required to pass through a checkpoint and be subject to a systematic safety inspection. Operators will be checked for any sign of impairment from alcohol or drugs, and to ensure the required safety equipment, such as proper life jackets and working fire extinguishers, are aboard.

“Our main goal is to ensure people are enjoying our waterways safely and responsibly, and to help avert the next needless accident on the water,” said Velma Holt, west sector supervisor for the department’s regional office in Kingman. “The responsibility for boating safety among watercraft users is critically important.

“Because we share the river with California and Nevada, the area is a major draw for people traveling from across the Southwest. This time of year, our waterways are very congested, which lends itself to the potential for additional hazards.”

Boaters and watercraft users should review all regulations prior to launching. That includes having a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every person on board and making sure that anyone 12 and under is wearing one. Boats also must be equipped with a fire extinguisher and a Type IV throwable personal flotation device (PFD).

Additional multi-agency OUI checkpoints will occur on the Colorado River and its reservoirs throughout the boating season.

Pikachu agrees, Pokémon Go is a no-go when driving

Posted on by

pokemon4525bf78c8006c57b531ff0000a35efcPHOENIX — Have you captured Pikachu? Nabbed Rattata or the elusive Charizard? Leveled-up and trained your monsters at a Gym?

Of course, we’re talking about Pokémon Go, the week-old smartphone app soaring in popularity. The video game phenomenon is sending Pokémon Trainers to landmarks and into parks, neighborhoods and cities, hunting for rare monsters.

The lure of the chase can be strong and the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Public Safety want to remind Pokémon Trainers that driving and searching for exotic monsters or checking in at Poké Stops don’t mix.

“Distracted driving takes many forms, even looking for Pokémon,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Although we hope you catch ’em all, if you’re not focused on driving with your eyes on the road, you’re at a higher risk of injuring or killing yourself and others in a crash. No Pokémon is worth that.”

To urge Pokémon Go fans to hunt safely, the following message will be displayed statewide on overhead highway signs this week:

POKEMON GO
IS A NO-GO
WHEN DRIVING
“Distracted driving is not a game,” said DPS Capt. Damon Cecil. “Playing Pokémon Go is not worth your life or someone else’s.”

So, please, #DontCatchAndDrive. And when traveling on foot don’t play the game near the road, either. Do you really want the eggs you’re incubating to get smashed in a crash?

On all Arizona roadways in 2015, distracted driving contributed to at least 33 fatal crashes and nearly 8,000 distracted drivers were involved in crashes on Arizona roadways, according to data collected by ADOT.

Northbound Interstate 17 construction between Kachina Village and Interstate 40 Junction

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be applying Recessed Pavement Markers and other pavement markings on the recently re-surfaced six mile stretch of northbound Interstate 17, from the Kachina Bvd/Mountainaire road exit (milepost 333) to the Lake Mary road exit south of the I-40 Junction (milepost 339). Work will occur on Thursday (July 14) and Friday (July 15) during daylight hours.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zone. Delays can be expected during construction; please allow for extra time for travel in the area. ADOT advises travelers to observe reduced speeds in the area, and to watch for crews and equipment in the work zone.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

ADEQ Launches Reimbursement Programs for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

Posted on by

PHOENIX— Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today the launch of two programs designed to reimburse eligible underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators who incurred environmental cleanup costs for leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs).

In 2015, the Arizona legislature enacted HB 2636, which modified the ways the penny-per-gallon UST tax can be used. The penny-per-gallon tax provides funding to clean up environmental hazards created by LUSTs.

UST owners and operators who were ‘time-barred’ from submitting costs for reimbursement after the sunset of the former state assurance fund (SAF) on June 30, 2010, now have the opportunity to seek repayment by submitting a ‘UST time-barred claim’ application. Legislation allows ADEQ to provide reimbursement for eligible owners and operators of up to 90 percent of the approved cleanup costs incurred after June 30, 2010.

To be considered, all ‘time-barred’ applications must be submitted to ADEQ by Dec. 31, 2016. ADEQ urges eligible parties to act now and submit their applications before the deadline.

UST owners, operators or landowners also may be eligible for ADEQ’s UST Preapproval Program, which provides financial assistance for corrective action costs that are not being covered by a financial assurance mechanism. ADEQ will work closely with applicants to develop a cleanup plan and path to closure for their USTs.

“These two reimbursement programs provide opportunities for qualifying UST owners and operators (and, in some cases, landowners) to get part or all of their cleanup costs covered,” ADEQ Waste Programs Division Director Laura Malone said. “It is a win-win for our customers and the environment. We are encouraging those who believe they qualify for either program to review information on our website to see if they are eligible.”

To find out more about the UST Time-Barred Program, visit azdeq.gov/ust/time-barred

To find out more about the UST Preapproval Program, visit azdeq.gov/ust/preapproval

Paving work to begin July 11 on US 89 in Cameron

Posted on by

CAMERON — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be paving on US 89 from the State Route 64 junction through Cameron (milepost 465 to 467) beginning Monday (July 11) to Friday (July 15) for the final phase of paving on the US 89 widening project.

Motorists who travel along US 89 in the project area can expect to encounter delays while one-lane restrictions are in place for both north- and southbound travel. Work will take place from 6 am to 6 pm daily and will require a 12’ width restriction during paving operations.

Directional signage and flaggers will be present during construction. ADOT advises to allow for extra time for travel during construction and to be alert for equipment and personnel in the work zone.

Thursday is deadline to apply for Local Sportsmen’s Group grants

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds local sportsmen’s organizations that the deadline to apply for $75,000 in annual grant funding is 5 p.m. (MST) Thursday, July 14. Postmarks do not count.

The purpose of the grant program is to support organizations in providing public, hands-on, mentored projects that provide continued skill development for those who just started hunting and fishing.

The priority funding focus of this year’s grant program is on moving beginners from the recruitment stage to the retention stage of the Adoption Sequence. Projects and events that involve the pursuit or harvest of wildlife or fish with a license are being requested. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process and must be open to the public.

To apply, download an application packet from www.azgfd.gov/LSG. Completed applications should be submitted by e-mail to: dburt@azgfd.gov. Call Doug Burt, hunting and shooting sports program manager, at (623) 236-7487 to confirm receipt.

Burt said there are many organizations that do great work, but lack the funding to carry out the important work of passing down the hunting and angling heritage to the next generation of wildlife conservationists and stewards. The Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program is the Department’s and the Commission’s commitment to the important role they play in conservation.

“Based on the developing science and data in recruitment and retention, there is a need for programs that provide beginners with the next progressive step necessary to become self-reliant as a hunter or angler,” Burt said. “Local sportsmen’s organizations offer a perfect solution because they are part of the community and can provide the continued skills and social support that beginners need.”

There is no cost to Arizona taxpayers for this grant program. Game and Fish does not receive any of the state’s general tax funds and operates under a user-pay, public-benefit model. The grant program is an investment in the continuance of wildlife conservation efforts and outdoors recreation participation in Arizona.

To learn more about how hunters, anglers, shooters and boaters fund wildlife conservation, visit www.azgfd.gov/h_f/federal-aid-cycle.shtml.

ADEQ to host waste material compliance workshop if Flagstaff

Posted on by

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Waste Programs staff will conduct a Waste Compliance Workshop where attendees will learn about Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulations and ADEQ’s Pollution Prevention Program. ADEQ encourages community members, businesses and government agencies to attend this no-cost workshop.

The seminar will be held in Flagstaff at the Arizona Game and Fish office at 3500 Lake Mary Road. The seminar will be Tuesday, July 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Topics include

Solid Waste:

  • Proper handling of Used Oil
  • Petroleum Contaminated Soil Disposal
  • Biohazardous Medical Waste (including tattoo needles)
  • Prescription and Non-prescription drug disposal
  • Used and Waste Tires
  • Illegal Dumping

Hazardous Waste:

  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and hazardous waste regulations
  • Hazardous waste generator classes (LQG, SQG, CESQG)
  • Common hazardous wastes by industry
  • What to expect when you’re inspected
  • Top 10 most common hazardous waste violations
  • New ADEQ hazardous waste inspection checklist.
  • myDEQ RCRQA EPA ID Registration

Hazardous Waste Manifest and Reporting:

  • Preparing the Perfect Manifest – Instructions on how to submit a hazardous waste manifest, including: Timeliness; Which manifest copy to submit; Common omissions and errors; And readability.
  • Submitting a Biennial Hazardous Waste Facility Annual Report – This will take you through the steps of using the free BRSW software from Florida to submit an LQG FAR; How to download and set up the software; The advantages to using the software over hardcopy versions; Tricks to compiling data; And how to zip and submit the report.

Pollution Prevention:

  • What’s new in Pollution Prevention including a review of the program statutes, thresholds and plan requirements
  • Examples on successful goals
  • The improved P2 plan forms.

Underground Storage Tanks:
Tired of getting two different stories regarding your USTs? Get the facts in this informative 1 hour session on UST rule updates and requirements for keeping your UST systems in compliance.

Fish Lake Powell

Posted on by

AZGFD Photo

AZGFD Photo

PAGE — Lake Powell can be an angler’s dream this time of year for striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye. With around 1,750 miles of shoreline, you can sometimes go days without seeing another angler … unless you want to.