Daily Archives: June 15, 2015

Get out of Williams! Bill Williams lookout

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Watch your step in the forest! Some cacti are in bloom and make great photos.

Watch your step in the forest! Some cacti are in bloom and make great photos.

WILLIAMS — With the gun street show, Route 66 Market and other weekend events, everyone knows that there is much to do in Williams during the summer season. This weekend is the Cowpuncher Rodeo, for example, and Wild West Weekend.

Williams is also known for their outdoor activities. Recently Forest Service Road 111 which leads to Bill Williams lookout has been opened. A popular activity is to drive the road to the top of Bill Williams Mountain—the highest point in Williams. Right now the oaks and aspens are green. During the fall, however, the view is spectacular. So do not count Williams out during that season.

300-FR111-15-06-14-04Not only is there camping in the area, but it is a great place to set up for a family picnic. However, you should be aware that everyone with a dog takes them out into these areas. If your dog is not exactly friendly, you need to make sure that they are tethered.

The other thing to remember—and this is very important—fire danger still exists all year around. Lately the high winds have subsided. If there are high winds, however, you should use a camp stove. If you choose a campfire, make sure you take plenty of water to extinguish it COMPLETELY. Make sure it is cold before you leave. If an accidental fire should start, call 911 IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait and try to put it out.

You will, of course, want to return to Williams after your day in the woods to check out one of the days of the Cowpuncher rodeo. Real cowboys doing the job they do daily. The great restaurants in Williams have your evening meal ready.

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ADEQ Awards $48,500 Brownfields Grant to Town of Wellton

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $48,500 brownfields grant to the Town of Wellton to remove asbestos and hydraulic hoists from a town-owned building located at 28789 Los Angeles Ave. in Yuma County.

Brownfields are properties with active redevelopment potential hindered by known or perceived environmental contamination.

Formerly a gas station, the town currently uses the 1.6-acre property as a storage facility. The asbestos abatement and hydraulic hoist removal will prepare the property for development of a municipal complex to include the town hall and council chambers and the public safety department.

Town of Wellton Public Works Director Joe Grant shared, “We value ADEQ’s brownfields expertise and assistance in helping us reach our beautification goals for our downtown area.” Grant added, “The first grant we received last year identified what cleanup work needed to be done; this second grant will fund the actual cleanup work.”

“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 brownfields grant program is funded through a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Comprehensive Environmental Resource Recovery Act (CERCLA). Since it began in 2003, our brownfields grant program has funded more than 50 projects assisting local governments and nonprofits in completing environmental assessments and cleanup. For more information about the program, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/cleanup/brownfields.html or contact ADEQ Brownfields Coordinator Jennie Curé at jec@azdeq.gov or (602) 771-2296.

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