Category Archives: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Arizona’s Coal Combustion Residuals Rulemaking virtual meeting

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ADEQ is holding a virtual meeting for stakeholders of the Arizona Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rulemaking to discuss the draft rule. The presentation will focus on how the draft CCR rule addresses protection of groundwater, dam safety, permitting, and public participation.

Arizona’s CCR Program Rulemaking
Date: Sept. 19, 2023
Time: 1 p.m.
Online | Register via GoToWebinar >

We are working on rules that will allow us to establish and operate a CCR permitting program for Arizona. This program will undergo approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency so that Arizona will be authorized to operate it in lieu of the federal program. To learn more, visit our Coal Combustion Residuals Rulemaking web page.

How to Submit Comments or Feedback

Submit comments online >

Questions?

Contact our Waste Programs Rulemaking team | Email >

ADEQ Announces New Arizona Orphaned Well Program

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) today announced the newly launched Orphaned Well Program. ADEQ is working in partnership with the Arizona Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (AZOGCC), landowners and community members to properly plug orphaned oil and gas wells on State and private land in Arizona and mitigate potential safety, public health and environmental risks.

Conducted on behalf of AZOGCC in 2022, ADEQ’s initial records research for potential orphaned wells in Arizona shows an estimate of 246 possible wells. Many of the wells identified were drilled in the early 1900s, before Arizona established oil and gas regulations. Therefore, there could be additional potential orphaned wells and we are encouraging community members to be on the lookout and report them to us to investigate.

“We appreciate the opportunity to lend our expertise to support this important Orphaned Well Program that serves Arizonans and our environment,” said ADEQ Air Quality Director, Daniel Czecholinski. “We are eager to work with community members to locate, verify and address any potential orphaned wells. Working together on this initiative, we will create a safer and healthier Arizona for everyone.”

ADEQ has created an interactive reporting tool that makes it easy for people to report a potential orphaned well. Community members can use the tool to report potential orphaned wells from their smartphone or computer using this link: bit.ly/ReportOrphanWells, or simply call 602-771-4501 or email azorphanedwells@azdeq.gov to help this critical effort.

The Orphaned Well Program covers confirmed orphaned wells that are located on State or private lands. Orphaned wells located on federal or Tribal lands are not included in the program. In addition to ADEQ’s initial list of 246 orphan wells, ADEQ will conduct file reviews for wells reported by community members to gather well ownership, location, geology and other information to help locate wells and determine if they are eligible for the program.

With cooperation from private landowners, ADEQ will work closely with property owners and any nearby community members to coordinate field activities. This cooperation is critical to the success of the program. Field activities can include verifying well location and status, and then, if needed, environmental sampling, well plugging, and cleanup or restoration of the landscape surrounding the plugged well to return the area to its original state. As part of the well plugging work, ADEQ will conduct methane monitoring before and after plugging to confirm its effectiveness.

“Properly addressing orphaned wells in our State is part of our continuing commitment to protecting Arizona’s natural resources,” said Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Chairman Frank Thorwald. “Thanks to our partnership with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, we are now able to take these crucial steps and implement this program for Arizonans.”

Background

Orphaned wells are oil and gas wells that are not plugged, not producing, and have no owner or responsible party. In Arizona, the majority of these wells were drilled for oil, natural gas, potash (a mineral used in fertilizer) and helium. When not properly plugged, the wells can pose a risk to public health and the environment, including air and water pollution.

Arizona’s Orphaned Well Program is funded by a $25 million competitive grant awarded to ADEQ by the U.S. Department of Interior as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Orphaned Well Program | Learn more > 

Surface Water and Soil Test Results near Walker

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) surface water and soil test results of orange water and soil in the area surrounding the former Sheldon Mine (see sampling location map at end) in Walker, Arizona, indicate the orange coloration is due to naturally-occurring iron. As iron is exposed to air, it forms iron oxide, which is orange or red in color. Based on the heavily mineralized geology in this former mining district, ADEQ tested the samples (surface water and soil) for metals (barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, iron), arsenic, cyanide, and pH. Test results confirm that surface water and soil in the area do not pose an immediate threat to public health and that no remediation activities are warranted.

“Within 24 hours of receiving information from a resident about concerns related to the orange liquid and soil, ADEQ had an inspector on-site to investigate,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Director Trevor Baggiore. “Once we confirmed the orange liquid, we immediately coordinated with our local, county and state partners and worked with Yavapai County Emergency Management to post signs to inform the public to avoid the area, while we made arrangements to conduct environmental sampling.”

On April 1, 2023, ADEQ collected four surface water samples — two from the area where the orange water was pooling and two where the orange water was entering a nearby creek. ADEQ also collected three soil samples from the area with the orange color.

  • Surface Water Results: ADEQ test results show that water in the nearby creek met applicable state surface water quality standards that protect people’s health if they recreate in the creek. For the orange water samples taken prior to reaching the creek, most elements met the standards; the elements that measured higher than the standards were arsenic and lead. The orange water is also weakly acidic, which is common in this area due to the geology and consistent with data from other streams in the Bradshaw Mountains.
  • Soil Results: ADEQ’s soil test results show all elements were well below the most conservative state cleanup standards, which are for residential areas, with the exception of arsenic. The arsenic results are consistent with levels that naturally occur in this highly mineralized area and across Arizona, do not present a concern for public health, and do not warrant cleanup action.

As a precautionary measure, ADEQ continues to advise people near the Sheldon Mine to avoid contact with orange water and orange stained soil in the area.

The Bradshaw Mountains include miles of underground mine workings and dozens of historic waste rock and tailings piles that date back many decades. Groundwater upwelling along with runoff from the historic waste rock and tailings piles contribute to the mineral content of surface water. Due to recent above-average precipitation in the region, orange water may be surfacing in other nearby areas.

On March 31, 2023, out of an abundance of caution, ADEQ advised the public to stay away from orange water or orange stained soils in the area surrounding the former Sheldon Mine in Walker, Arizona. While surface water and soil conditions in the area of the former Sheldon Mine do not pose an immediate health risk, ADEQ reminds Arizonans to always stay away from discolored soil, discolored surface water, and stormwater runoff in both urban and rural areas. In addition to metal pollutants, stormwater surface water flows can carry bacteria and pathogens. ADEQ also reminds and encourages private well owners to regularly test their well water according to guidance provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

More Information

Comment period extended for Arizona Title 15 fire management rules

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ADEQ has extended the public comment period on the proposed revision to Article 15 Arizona’s Forest and Range Fire Management Regulatory Rules. The comment period will now end December 9, 2022.

The revisions to Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 18, Chapter 2, Article 15 streamline the rules to better conform to current industry standards, increase clarity, and to facilitate enhanced compliance. The rules once completed will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for incorporation in Arizona’s State Implementation Plan as required under the Clean Air Act.

View Public Notice/Related Documents

ADEQ encourages and values your input and participation.

Governor Ducey Signs Historic Water Protection Legislation

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PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey today signed legislation to ensure clean water in nearly 800 Arizona streams, lakes and rivers that are critical for drinking, fishing and recreation.

“Living in the desert, the value of water is something we in Arizona know well, and we have taken great steps to protect it, including the Groundwater Management Act and the Drought Contingency Plan,” said Governor Ducey. “But just having water is not enough. We need to ensure our water supplies are clean and safe. That’s why I signed into law another landmark Arizona water protection bill — the Surface Water Protection Program providing protections for nearly 800 Arizona streams, lakes, and rivers.”

House Bill (HB) 2691 implements the Arizona Surface Water Protection Program by creating a list of rivers, streams, and lakes used for drinking, recreation and fishing that are protected from harmful discharge of any pollutant. Specifically, the legislation:

  • Preserves important water quality safeguards and provides clarity and consistency to the regulated community;
  • Promotes transparency by providing a defined list of protected Arizona waters that will be protected through a permitting program, as well as Geographic Information System map functionality, on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) website; and
  • Provides an opportunity to develop meaningful and impactful best management practices that will protect these important waterways.

“This legislation protects and regulates discharges into Arizona surface waters that are used for drinking water sources, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities,” said Representative Gail Griffin, who sponsored the legislation, of Legislative District 14. “We don’t need to rely on the federal government to tell us how to regulate our waters. We have taken this important responsibility that requires best management practices to ensure that discharges do not cause violations in water quality standards.”

“With this legislation Arizona will protect its most important waters that are not currently regulated by the federal government in a streamlined and locally responsive way,” said ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera.

Governor Ducey applauded the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2020 decision to improve the federal Clean Water Act and committed that Arizona welcomes the need to protect state surface waters. Unlike previous federal efforts to regulate every dry ditch in the desert, Arizona focused on protecting actual waters with tools specific to Arizona.

As Governor Ducey wrote on Inauguration Day, Washington, D.C. should take note of what is happening in the states across the country. When it comes to protecting water, Arizona is leading by example.

HB 2691 is the first Arizona-specific water quality protection bill enacted since the Aquifer Protection Permit program in 1991, and together, these two programs will serve to protect the quality of both Arizona’s surface and groundwater resources.

Governor Ducey Calls On Department Of Defense To Promptly Address Groundwater Contamination In Arizona

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PHOENIX  — Governor Doug Ducey is calling on the U.S. Department of Defense to take prompt action to address Pentagon-related groundwater contamination near Arizona’s military installations.

In an April 27 letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Governor Ducey requested DOD to identify and treat water in Arizona contaminated in the areas surrounding four DOD installations and to prevent additional human exposure to PFAS from other DOD facilities in Arizona.

The four installations with known PFAS impacts to groundwater—Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Morris Air National Guard Base and the former Williams Air Force Base—are located in the two most populous metropolitan areas in Arizona, and each is surrounded by businesses and residential communities where thousands of Arizonans live, work and rely on clean groundwater for drinking.

The water is contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

“Ensuring that all Arizonans have the cleanest possible drinking water from public water systems today and for our future is critical for our health and well-being and a top priority of our state,” said Governor Ducey. “The situation in Arizona deserves attention. Arizona, through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, is acting to contain the spread of PFAS now, and I ask you to make a similar commitment on behalf of DOD for prompt remedial actions to address the DOD-related PFAS contamination of groundwater throughout Arizona and protect the health and safety of Arizonans.”

  • The drinking water supply for 4,000 people within the Valley Utilities Water Company service area near Luke Air Force Base in Glendale has been impacted by PFAS and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has identified 10 additional public water systems serving groundwater to 45,000 people within a 4-mile radius of Luke Air Force Base that are at risk | View details >
  • In Tucson, the City has had to shut-off 18 production wells impacted by PFAS. ADEQ is currently conducting an accelerated investigation and designing an early response action north of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to protect Tucson Water’s central wellfield, which serves as a primary drinking water source for Tucson | View Details >
  • Areas surrounding former Williams Air Force Base and other installations across the state are either still being assessed or need to be assessed for PFAS impacts. What is known related to Williams Air Force Base is that approximately 12 percent of Mesa’s water supply is sourced from groundwater in the area.

To prevent additional human exposure to PFAS, Governor Ducey requested the following of DOD:

  1. Share PFAS data related to Arizona installations to help determine the extent of PFAS impacts.
  2. Develop a preliminary conceptual site model for each DOD facility based on available groundwater, geological and facility data.
  3. Estimate a preliminary time range for when DOD-related PFAS plumes may reach public drinking water systems.
  4. Conduct accelerated remedial investigations with the primary purpose of designing early response actions to stop the PFAS plumes.
  5. Design and install early response actions to protect public drinking water systems at risk from DOD-related PFAS.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals with fire-retardant properties that have been manufactured and used by a variety of industries since 1940. PFAS can migrate into soil, water and air during manufacture and use of products containing PFAS and do not break down, so they remain in the environment and can impact groundwater and drinking water sources. Because of their widespread use and persistence, PFAS can build up in people and animals with repeated exposure over time. Most industries have been phasing out the use of PFAS since the early 2000s. There is a growing body of scientific evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse health effects. A significant PFAS human exposure pathway is drinking municipal or well water with PFAS levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lifetime Health Advisory Level.

View Governor Ducey’s Letter to the Secretary of Defense HERE >

To learn more about PFAS, please visit: PFAS Resources >

ADEQ seeks water quality data

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is seeking surface water quality data to use in the 2022 Clean Water Act (CWA) Assessment, also known as Arizona’s Integrated 305(b) Assessment and 303(d) Listing Report. ADEQ uses monitoring data to assess whether lake and stream uses are protected by the CWA and can be used for recreation, drinking, agriculture, wildlife and fish consumption.

ADEQ encourages and welcomes data from all sources: private citizens, businesses, public agencies, state and federal governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Time Period

ADEQ requests surface water quality data collected for the period from July 1, 2012, to April 30, 2021, that has not previously been submitted to ADEQ. Submissions will be accepted until April 30, 2021.

How to Submit Data

There are two ways to submit data for use in the CWA Assessment:

  1. The preferred method for data submissions is via the EPA Water Quality Data website | Click to Visit Website >
  2. Data may be submitted to ADEQ directly, but to be accepted, the submission must adhere to the ADEQ data submission guidelines | Click for Submission Guidelines > 

ADEQ appreciates and values your efforts and data contributions to help us protect and enhance Arizona’s surface waters now and in the future.

Keep it Clean this Holiday Weekend!

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Arizona State Parks and Trails today encouraged both residents and visitors to the Grand Canyon State to get outdoors during the July 4th holiday, enjoy all that Arizona’s unique, outdoor recreation areas have to offer and do their part to protect our beautiful, natural environment for each other and for future generations.

“Arizona’s state parks and trails offer a respite and a chance to explore this state’s most beautiful places,” said Arizona State Parks and Trails Executive Director Bob Broscheid. “It’s up to everyone to recreate responsibly and remember to always ‘Pack It In, Pack It Out,’ when enjoying the great outdoors.”

“We want Arizonans and visitors to enjoy our outdoor spaces and precious waters for generations to come,” said ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera. “We’re asking everyone to do their part and leave no trace, or, better yet, leave Arizona’s natural spaces better than you found them.”

It’s simple:

Pack out your trash
Use a designated restroom
Pick up after your pet

Over holiday weekends, significant amounts of trash are left behind at some of Arizona’s favorite outdoor destinations. Visitors need to ‘leave no trace’ by removing all items they bring to the outdoors and disposing or recycling those items responsibly at home. Trash left behind also brings a hidden danger to water — it attracts wild animals, which leave their waste behind. To make matters worse, people don’t always use designated restrooms and neglect to pick up after their pets. This ‘poo-llution’ contributes to potentially harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, in waters where families swim, wade and play.

You can help even more by picking up more than you pack in. Take an extra bag, pick up trash and tell ADEQ how much you helped protect Arizona’s land and water. It is incumbent to both Arizonans and visitors to the Grand Canyon state to maintain our beautiful parks and other outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more about how you can help ADEQ scientists clean up Arizona’s great outdoors and protect Arizona’s beautiful waters today and for our future:

Help Clean Up
Become Citizen Scientist with ADEQ’s Arizona Water Watch Program

ADEQ Air Quality Meteorologists Launch First State Wildfire Smoke Forecast in the Nation

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a new wildfire smoke forecast — the first state wildfire smoke forecast of its kind in the country — to provide Arizona communities with early and ongoing information about potential air quality impacts so they can make informed decisions for their health. Designed to support, and in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wildfire air resource advisors and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) staff, ADEQ’s air quality meteorologists will provide a wildfire smoke forecast when Arizona wildfires have the potential for extended air quality impacts to communities as determined in coordination with federal and state land managers.

“With our new wildfire smoke forecast, we are serving our communities by providing both early and ongoing information about potential air quality impacts from wildfires,” said ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera.

“We expect this wildfire smoke forecast, the first of its kind in the nation, to serve as a model for how state and federal air quality experts can work together to leverage local knowledge and best serve their communities,” said AZDFFM Director David Tenney.

To inform health and safety considerations and support decision-making, ADEQ’s wildfire smoke forecasts provide both community members and wildfire managers with information about:

  • Who is managing the wildfire and how to get in touch,
  • Which communities may be affected by smoke,
  • Where smoke is coming from and how long it is expected to last,
  • Recommendations about when to limit outdoor activity, and
  • Helpful resources including fact sheets, frequently asked questions and other resources related to land managers and other agencies.

When activated, online wildfire smoke forecasts will be available 24/7 and updated daily each morning to provide information about expected smoke impacts for the next 48-hours. ADEQ will continue to update activated wildfire smoke forecasts until data show significantly reduced risk of health impacts.

ADEQ’s wildfire smoke forecasts typically are not provided for wildfires that are short in duration or which occur in remote locations, away from populated areas.

ADEQ issues fish consumption advisory for two northern Arizona lakes

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in association with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), is issuing a fish consumption advisory for black crappie caught from Santa Fe Lake in Williams in Coconino County. There is also a fish consumption advisory for largemouth bass caught from Horsethief Basin Lake in Yavapai County and south of the community of Crown King. This advisory is based on recent analysis of fish tissue data that indicate elevated levels of mercury.

ADEQ recommends that adults limit consumption of black crappie from Santa Fe Lake or largemouth bass from Horsethief Basin Lake to 2.5 ounces (uncooked weight) per week and children 12 years of age and younger limit consumption to 2 ounces (uncooked weight) per month. Santa Fe Lake is home to a variety of fish. During the spring and summer, AGFD stocks the lake with rainbow trout, which can be eaten in unlimited amounts.

Generally, contaminant levels found in water are significantly lower than those found in fish tissue. Therefore, fishing, bird watching, swimming and other recreational activities at the lake are not affected by this advisory and are encouraged for enjoying the great outdoors.

Fish are an excellent source of protein and can be an important part of a healthy, diverse diet as they are low in saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends people eat at least two fish or seafood meals every week. The public health recommendations in this advisory are based on frequent and long-term consumption of fish, not infrequent or occasional fish meals. AGFD and ADEQ maintain a Green Light Fisheries program listing fish species from specific waters that may be consumed without limits.

See Interactive e-Map for Green Light Fisheries and Fish Consumption Advisories