Tag Archives: ADEQ

ADEQ: Lake Powell safe for all uses

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PHOENIX — As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that their analysis of water entering Lake Powell shows that the lake is safe for normal uses.

“ADEQ wants Arizona residents and visitors to know that Lake Powell is safe for Labor Day recreational activities including swimming and boating,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Director Trevor Baggiore. “ADEQ and the multiple cooperating agencies are reviewing and analyzing new information as it becomes available as part of our everyday work to protect Arizona’s waters,” he added.

Scientists and specialists from several Arizona agencies have been and are continuing to monitor and assess data related to the mine spill. Arizona’s cooperating agencies agree that Lake Powell and the downstream Colorado River are safe for all uses including recreation and agriculture as well as a drinking water source for public water systems.

To establish baseline water quality, ADEQ conducted water quality sampling on August 12, 2015. Test results of these samples are consistent with historic water quality data from Lee’s Ferry (downstream of Glen Canyon Dam). These results, along with ADEQ’s data analysis of water entering Lake Powell (San Juan River test data collected by Utah) are available for review on the Arizona cooperating agencies’ Gold King Mine spill information website: https://ein.az.gov/gold-king-mine-spill-response, located on the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AZEIN) website.

As part of the ongoing water quality monitoring and assessment work, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is collecting and testing fish tissue and water quality samples from the Arizona portion of Lake Powell. As new test results become available, ADEQ will compare them with Arizona surface water quality standards and historical data to support water quality protection efforts and continue to share updated information on the AZEIN website.

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.

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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ADEQ Awards $45,000 Brownfields Grant for Cleanup at Former Canyon Trading Post

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WILLIAMS — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $45,000 brownfields grant to Angel’s Corner, Inc. to remove asbestos and lead-based paint from the former Canyon Trading Post located at 5127 N. State Highway 64 in Coconino County. ADEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) will oversee this work.

The 1.45-acre former Canyon Trading Post site consists of five combined structures constructed between 1889 and 1991. Unoccupied for years and in a state of disrepair, this brownfields grant-funded environmental cleanup work is the next of several steps necessary to prepare the property for redevelopment that will emphasize meeting the needs of the community.

Brownfields are properties with active redevelopment potentially hindered by known or perceived environmental contamination. Since it began in 2003, ADEQ’s brownfields grant program has funded more than 50 projects assisting local governments and nonprofits in completing environmental assessments and cleanup. Currently accepting applications, ADEQ’s brownfields grant program conducts projects through Arizona’s State Response Grant using funds provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Recovering blighted properties by administering non-competitive grants through ADEQ’s brownfields program is just one way we accomplish environmentally responsible economic growth in our state,” ADEQ Director Henry Darwin said. “Our staff works diligently with grant applicants to create customized solutions that maximize program benefits for each community’s unique needs.”

ADEQ’s VRP program allows property owners, prospective purchasers and other interested parties to work in cooperation with ADEQ to streamline investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites and obtain sign-off from all relevant ADEQ programs. ADEQ’s VRP successfully has completed more than 200 site closures since Arizona’s VRP laws came into effect in 2000.

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).

Florence AZPDES 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 renew 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.15-64                      Published on June 18, 2015
Published in Florence Reminder

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025208
Town of Florence- South Wastewater Treatment Plant
P.O. Box 2670
Florence, AZ 85232

The Town of Florence applied for renewal of an AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 2.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Town of Florence South Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Gila River in the Middle Gila River Basin in Township 4 S, Range 9 E, Section 34, in Pinal County, Arizona. The Town of Florence South Wastewater Treatment Plant is a publicly owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources in the town of Florence and the Florence Prison System. Sludge is treated in sludge digesters, then pumped to a belt press and disposed of at the Apache Junction Landfill Corporation in Pinal County. The WWTP also receives and treats sludge from the North Florence WWTP.

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 Richard Mendolia, Water Permits Section, 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. R18-9-908(B).

ADEQ Hosts Free Environmental Roadshows in Bisbee and Benson

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced today that they and partners ADOT Adopt a Highway Volunteer Programs and Keep Arizona Beautiful (KAZB) will conduct two “Environmental Resources Roadshows” in Cochise County:

  1. Tuesday, June 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Bisbee City Hall – Council Chambers, 118 Arizona St., Bisbee
  2. Wednesday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Benson City Hall – Council Chambers, 120 W. Sixth St., Benson.

ADEQ encourages community members, business people, public officials, and school representatives in Bisbee, Benson and the surrounding area to attend these free events.

ADEQ staff will discuss potential recycling funding opportunities, future electronic waste recycling events, food recovery program, and brownfields grants. Adopt a Highway officials will talk about the process for volunteers to adopt sections of Arizona highways for litter cleanup. KAZB officials will discuss their statewide litter prevention and beautification programs. Representatives of each agency will give brief presentations, engage attendees in an open dialogue and answer questions during the two-hour event.

“Bisbee recycled 442 tons of waste materials in 2014 using 100 convenient drop-off locations,” said ADEQ Recycling Coordinator J.B. Shaw. “ADEQ hopes that Bisbee’s successful program, which started with one of our recycling grants, will inspire nearby communities to provide customized recycling opportunities that benefit their citizens.”

“ADEQ’s governmental and non-profit partnerships, like our state-wide roadshow series, provide environmental education and raise awareness by matching available resources with specific needs of our communities,” said ADEQ Director Henry Darwin.

Contacts:

ADEQ Recycling Coordinator J.B. Shaw at shaw.joseph@azdeq.gov or (602) 771-5613
ADEQ Brownfields Coordinator Jennie Curé at jec@azdeq.gov or (602) 771-2296
KAZB Executive Director Jill Bernstein at executivedirector@kazb.org or (602) 651-1227
ADOT Adopt a Highway Programs Patricia Powers-Zermeño at ppowers-zermeno@azdot.gov or (602) 712-4620

Buckeye proposed AZPDES 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. 15-63                            Published on June 11, 2015

Published in the Arizona Business Gazette
AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025216
City of Buckeye
423 Arizona Eastern Avenue
Buckeye, Arizona 85326

The City of Buckeye applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 1.0 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Festival Ranch Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) to Wagner Wash in the Middle Gila River Basin in Township 4 N, Range 4 W, Section 28, Maricopa County, Arizona. The Festival Ranch WRF is a publicly owned treatment works which receives domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources from the Festival Ranch community located in Buckeye. Sludge is put through a digester, belt pressed, and dewatered. Treated sludge is then hauled to an approved 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 Ramona Chomor, 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).