Daily Archives: February 24, 2015

All NAU Students and Faculty Airlifted to Safety

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – All of the NAU students and Faculty have been rescued from the area of Sowats Point near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where they have been stranded since yesterday afternoon.

As of 4:00 pm today all of the individuals were flown to the parking lot of Jacobs Lake where they will be driven back to NAU Campus. Today’s eleven hour rescue effort began this morning at 5:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm this afternoon.

All twenty of the individuals are reported to be in good health and none of them required medical attention. Due to the vast distances involved the DPS Air Rescue Helicopter had to fly into Utah twice for the purpose of refueling. Students and faculty will be transported from Jacobs Lake to NAU campus via NAU vehicles.

Efforts Underway to Rescue 20 NAU Staff and Students near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Posted on by

FREDONIA – On Monday, February 23, 2015 at about 1:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a representative of Northern Arizona University. According to the caller two NAU vans carrying sixteen students, two university staff members, and two graduate students/assistants were stuck by snow-covered, impassable dirt roads in the area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The group had been camping for several days in the area of Sowats Point located outside of the Grand National Park. They attempted to drive out of the area yesterday afternoon when the vans became stuck in snow. Students and staff were able to free the vehicle; however, it was apparent to them that the dirt roads covered with deep snow were impassable. The area from Fredonia to the North Rim is reporting between 18-24” of snowfall from the most recent storm.

Sheriff’s Office personnel had intermittent contact with members of the party via cell phones and satellite texting. All members of the group are in good health with ample provisions and camping equipment to sustain them overnight. Due to the time of day and the weather conditions, the decision was made to have the group drive as far east as possible and to shelter in place inside the vehicles overnight. The group is approximately 30 miles south of Fredonia and 20 miles west of SR 67.

The Sheriff’s Office developed two rescue plans and coordinated with Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue. This morning an AZ DPS helicopter and crew from Flagstaff flew to the area to determine if members of the party can be safely picked up and flown out. Current conditions of low cloud cover, heavy fog and light snow may hamper this rescue approach. Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel will stand by with a snow cat and a four wheel drive vehicle equipped with mattracks. In the event that an air rescue is not possible, SAR personnel will drive to the location and transport them to safety.

At 12:57 p.m. today, the Arizona DPS helicopter pilot has surveyed the area on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where the 20 NAU students and faculty are stranded at Sowats Point. He determined he can safely transport the stranded people out of area by air. Currently three of the students have been airlifted to the parking lot at Jacobs Lake where they were met by NAU transport vehicles. The students and factuality members will be flown three at a time until all members of the party have been safely relocated.

Baggiore Selected Director of ADEQ’s Water Quality Division

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Trevor Baggiore has been selected as the new director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality Division, ADEQ Director Henry Darwin announced today.

Baggiore had served as the division’s deputy director since September 2014 and had been deputy director of the ADEQ Air Quality Division for four years before making the move to the Water Quality Division. Baggiore replaces Mike Fulton, who resigned last week to become deputy director of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

Baggiore received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University in 2001, the same year he joined ADEQ as an intern. He received his master’s degree in business administration from ASU in 2006 and is a registered professional engineer in Arizona.

“Trevor brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to his leadership role along with a proven track record of planning and executing complex projects,” Darwin said. “I’m extremely excited by the prospects of his promotion not only for Trevor but for the Water Quality Division and the entire agency.”

Before being selected deputy director of the Air Quality Division, Baggiore had been both a unit manager and section manager in the division for six years.

Proposed Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Azpdes) Renewal Permit

Posted on by

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. 15-43                                       Published on Tuesday, February 24, 2015

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0020427
City of Flagstaff
Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
211 W. Aspen Avenue
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

The City of Flagstaff applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 6 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Wildcat Hill WWTP to the Rio de Flag River in the Little Colorado River Basin in Township 21 S, Range 8 E, Section 4, in Coconino County, Arizona. The Wildcat Hill WWTP is a publicly owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sources in the City of Flagstaff. Sludge is pumped through two anaerobic digesters, further stabilized in storage basins, and injected into the soil of a dedicated land disposal site.

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).

Proposed Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Azpdes) Renewal Permit

Posted on by

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. 15-42                                    Published on Tuesday, February 24, 2015

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025895
Continental Country Club, Inc.
2380 N. Oakmont Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Continental Country Club, Inc. applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 3 million gallons per day (mgd) of effluent from the City of Flagstaff Wildcat Hill wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to three effluent storage lakes located on the golf course in Flagstaff, Arizona. The lakes are located in three drainages on the property which are tributaries to the Rio de Flag River in the Little Colorado River Basin in Township 21 N, Range 8 E, Section 18, in Coconino County, Arizona. The Wildcat Hill WWTP is a publicly owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sources in Flagstaff. Sludge is pumped through two anaerobic digesters, further stabilized in storage basins, and injected into the soil of a dedicated land disposal site.

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).

Birdman takes the Oscar

Posted on by

300-american_sniperHOLLYWEIRD – The “black comedy” Birdman apparently took best picture at the Oscars this year. In case you haven’t heard of it, a synopsis from The Numbers reads:

An actor—famous for portraying an iconic superhero—struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself.

Whether ironically or by intent, Micheal Keaton known for his Batman role stars in the film. To be fair, I have not seen the movie and it might actually be excellent.

The movie with an $18-million dollar budget claims over $76-million in worldwide revenues.

“Right-wing” web sites are calling this a snub to American Sniper produced by Clint Eastwood. Some are contending it is some sort of “payback” for his RNC speech in which the “left-wing” called him—basically—a doddering old fool.

This should not come as a shock. The Oscars are selected by the members of the screen actors guild. Since most actors going into Hollyweird since the ’60s are generally Communists and hate America, it is not surprising that pro-American, pro-Christian movies will not receive recognition. Yes, it would seem that the cowardice remarks by Micheal Moore (who has never served his country) have taken their toll. His well-respected Hollyweird opinion may have taken its toll on American Sniper.

With a $58-million dollar budget, American Sniper has received $428,509,632 in revenues, though, it would seem that America made a different choice for the best movie in America. This does not include expected video sales.

Yes, while other producers and actors will take home a simulated, gold-plated statue, poor old, doddering Mr. Eastwood will have to cry all the way to the bank.

Sagent Pharmaceuticals Initiates a Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Atracurium Besylate Injection

Posted on by

FDA-Recall-MedSchaumburg, ILLINOIS – Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the voluntary nationwide recall of two lots of Atracurium Besylate Injection, USP, 50mg/5mL single-dose vials (NDC 25021-659-05) and four lots of Atracurium Besylate Injection, USP, 100mg/10mL multi-dose vials (NDC 25021-672-10) manufactured by Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and distributed by Sagent. Sagent has initiated this voluntary recall of Atracurium Besylate Injection, USP, 50mg/5mL and 100mg/10mL to the user level due to FDA observations pertaining to aseptic and GMP practices at the manufacturer’s site potentially impacting product sterility. Non-sterility of a drug administered via the intravenous route has the potential to result in infections, which could be fatal, especially in patients who are immunocompromised. Sagent has transferred the manufacture of this product to its own facility and this product manufactured at the Sagent facility will not be impacted by the recall.

Sagent is not aware of any adverse patient events resulting from the use of the subject product lots.

The lot numbers being recalled are VATA012, VATA015 (50mg/5mL) and VATB012, VATB013, VATB014, VATB017 (100mg/10mL) which were distributed to hospitals, wholesalers and distributors nationwide from February 2014 through February 2015. Atracurium Besylate Injection, USP, 50mg/5mL and 100mg/10mL is indicated, as an adjunct to general anesthesia, to facilitate endotracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation, and is supplied in single-dose and multi-dose vials.

Customers are being notified by fax, email, FedEx, and/or certified mail that includes arrangements for return of all recalled product. Customers have been instructed to examine their inventory immediately and to quarantine, discontinue distribution of and return the recalled lots of product. Customers who may have further distributed this product have been requested to identify their customers and notify them at once of this product recall. The necessary form by which to document this information as well as other information regarding this recall is available at www.Sagentpharma.comdisclaimer icon.

Any questions about returning unused product should be directed to the customer call center at (866) 625-1618 M-F 8am-7pm CST. Healthcare workers who have medical questions about Atracurium Besylate Injection, USP may contact Sagent Medical Affairs (866-625-1618, Option 3) M-F 8am-5pm CST.

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.