Monthly Archives: July 2016

ADEQ Launches Reimbursement Programs for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

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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

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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.

Flight restrictions imposed over wildfires near Tusayan

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image013TUSAYAN — The two lightning-caused wildfires that are being managed to improve forest health on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are now being actively suppressed to ensure public and firefighter safety. Drier conditions combined with higher wind speeds prompted managers to adjust plans, however the fires continue to accomplish land management objectives that were originally identified.

The 679-acre Airstrip Fire is 50% contained. It has shown no growth over night and is still holding within the designated planning area. Engine crews will continue to patrol and mop up along containment lines working toward full containment. Smoke will continue to be noticeable but will be light with minimal impacts to Tusayan.

The Scott Fire continues to be active growing approximately 110 acres yesterday bringing the total burned area to 2485 acres. Crews are assessing the terrain to establish a safe approach in order to begin constructing control lines as close as possible to the active fire edge. Additional resources have been brought in to hasten the direct attack approach. With higher winds predicted in the short term forecast, managers are striving to have control lines in place before the expected winds arrive.

A temporary flight restriction has been implemented over the area of the fire in order to allow fire aircraft to work safely without conflicts from touring aircraft in the high traffic corridor near Grand Canyon.

An area surrounding a 9 mile section of the Arizona Trail and has been closed by special order (Order Number: 07-16-07-F) for the purpose of ensuring public safety. Trail users are directed to follow an alternate detour route along forest road 310 adjacent to the closed section of trail. Members of the public are asked to avoid driving into areas where fire personnel are working to ensure firefighter and public safety.

Both fires will continue to produce some visible smoke that may be seen from the communities of Tusayan, Valle, Cameron, Tuba City, and from both rims of the Grand Canyon.

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

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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

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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.

Airstrip Fire reaches objectives, Scott Fire to be suppressed

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TUSAYAN — Due to changing weather conditions in the forest that are now causing higher risks and exposure to firefighters, Officials have decided to implement a suppression strategy for the wildfires being managed on the Tusayan Ranger district on the Kaibab National Forest.

The Airstrip Fire has currently reached the perimeters within the planning area that were pre-set to stop forward progression and is no longer expected to grow. Crews successfully completed final ignitions along the south east boundary of the fire yesterday evening and will now begin mop up and patrolling to hold containment lines in place. Approximately 679 acres were burned and managers are pleased with the results which met the desired objectives that were identified for this fire. Although smoke will continue to be visible, volume is expected to decrease dramatically over the next few days as the fire settles.

The Scott Fire experienced much higher winds over the last two days which influenced a significant increase in fire behavior causing an acceleration in growth bringing the total burned area to 1730 acres. Officials continue to observe positive effects that correlate with land management objectives however strategies have been changed to ensure the protection of fire personnel and the public.

“With warmer temperatures and higher winds predicted over the next several days, we have decided that suppression is the best course of action at this time” said Tusayan District Ranger Christina Pearson. “Firefighter and public safety is our number one objective and we will only engage this fire when there is a high probability of success without putting people at risk.”

Both fires will continue to produce some visible smoke that will be seen from the communities of Tusayan, Valle, Cameron, Tuba City, and from both rims of the Grand Canyon. Smoke is expected to decline significantly from the Airstrip Fire but will remain more noticeable from the Scott Fire over the next few days.

ConAgra Foods Recalls Frozen Chicken and Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

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ConAgra-3 ConAgra Foods, a Russellville, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,806 pounds of frozen chicken and beef entrée products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The metal fragments range in size between 2 and 9 millimeters (mm) in diameter, and are curled, malleable and shiny. The metal fragments may be embedded in the sauce contained within the frozen entrée products.

The frozen chicken and beef entrée items were produced on June 13, 2016 and June 22, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]

* 22-oz. plastic bagged meal packages of “P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Signature Spicy Chicken.” with “Use By” date of 6/08/17 and case code 5006616500.
* 22-oz. plastic bagged meal packages of “P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Mongolian Style Beef.” with “Use By” date of 6/17/17 and case code 5006617400.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 233” or “EST. P-115” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors and retail locations in Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered July 1, 2016, when an establishment employee observed metal fragments while dispensing sugar from a supplier for sauce formulation during processing. The resulting sauce is a component in the frozen entrée products.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions or injuries due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Fish Lake Powell

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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.

AZGFD investigation: Horseshoe Lake fish died from low oxygen levels

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PHOENIX — The significant fish die-off last week on the Verde River below Horseshoe Dam was the result of a lack of oxygen, and not because of anything found in the river, according to a water-quality investigation compiled by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

On Thursday and Friday, the Department collected water-quality samples, analyzing fish for bacteria, viruses and parasites. The fish die-off was in an area approximately 100 yards downstream from Horseshoe Dam, which is operated and managed by Salt River Project for the Bureau of Reclamation.

It is estimated that approximately 20,000 fish were killed. About 60 to 70 percent were goldfish and carp. The remaining fish species were comprised of largemouth bass, flathead catfish, channel catfish, and bluegill. The Department believes that most of the fish killed were from Horseshoe Lake and that only a small fraction may have been from the Verde River below Horseshoe Dam.

On June 1, SRP began releasing approximately 1,000 cubic feet of water per second from Horseshoe Lake. SRP empties Horseshoe Lake each year to comply with the Horseshoe-Bartlett Habitat Conservation Plan (H-BHCP), which was established with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect endangered species from potential impacts of SRP’s operation of Bartlett and Horseshoe dams.

Mitigation activities in the H-BHCP, including the annual rapid draw-down of Horseshoe Lake, were developed to benefit native birds, native fish and reptiles in the upper Verde River that are listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. Specifically, the draw-down of the reservoir increases riparian nesting habitat availability for the southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo, while decreasing the numbers of non-native fish species that may compete with, or prey upon, native fish in the upper Verde River.

By June 28, the reservoir was nearly empty. As the reservoir level decreased, the fish in Horseshoe were concentrated in an increasingly smaller area. Sediment that was disturbed as the water was being drawn down consumed dissolved oxygen, resulting the low oxygen levels and causing the die-off.

As the last of the water was released from Horseshoe, the dead and dying fish were passed through the dam into the Verde River. Some of these fish may eventually drift down to Bartlett Lake.

In the meantime, it is important for anglers to remember they should not be taking these dead or dying fish.

Finishing work on SR 98 west of the US 160 Junction

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Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be performing finishing work to complete construction on a 9-mile segment of SR 98 (milepost 340 to 349); west of the US 160 Junction towards Page from Wednesday (July 6) through Wednesday (July 13). Work will take place weekdays during daylight hours only. Travel will be reduced to one lane with a pilot car to allow for alternating travel in the area.

What to expect:

  •        Traffic will be reduced to one lane during construction
  •        Pilot car escort will allow for alternating travel through the work zone
  •        Anticipate 15 minute delays during lane closures
  •        Work scheduled for weekdays only, early morning to sunset

Please allow for extra time for travel in the area. There will be reduced speeds and lane restrictions at various locations during work hours and flaggers will be used to guide vehicles through the work zone.