Category Archives: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Public Comment for West Pinal Moderate PM10 nonattainment

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) opens a 30-day public comment period with the publication of this notice on October 19, 2015, for the proposed 2015 West Pinal Moderate PM10 Nonattainment Area State Implementation Plan. The plan demonstrates that the West Pinal PM10 planning area will meet the 1987 health and welfare based 24-hour PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by December 2018.

A public hearing on the proposed attainment plan will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at the Maricopa Agricultural Center Multipurpose Room, 37860 W. Smith-Enke Rd., Maricopa, AZ 85138. All interested parties will be given an opportunity at the public hearing to submit verbal and written comments. To request an auxiliary aid or service for accessible communication, contact Alicia Pollard, Human Resources Assistant, at (602) 771-4791 or aap@azdeq.gov, or dial 7-1-1 for TTY/TTD Services.

Copies of the proposal are available for review Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 771-4712. A copy of the proposal can also be viewed at the Pinal County Air Quality Department, 31 N. Pinal Street, Bldg. F, Florence, AZ 85132, (520) 866-6929, or online at http://www.azdeq.gov/ by selecting Public Notices, Meetings, and Hearings.

Written comments may be mailed to Catherine Lucke-McDowell, Air Quality Division, State Implementation Plan Section, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, faxed to (602) 771-2366, or e-mailed to Lucke-McDowell.Catherine@azdeq.gov. Mailed comments must state the name and mailing address of the person; be signed by the person, their agent, or attorney; and clearly set forth reasons why this proposed attainment plan should or should not be finalized. Grounds for comment are limited to whether or not this proposed attainment plan meets the criteria spelled out in federal air pollution control laws and/or rules.

Comments must be received by ADEQ no later than November 19, 2015, by 5:00 p.m. or submitted at the public hearing. This proposed attainment plan will be submitted to the U.S. EPA following consideration of all comments received during the public comment period and hearing.

ADEQ proposes new safe drinking water rules

Posted on by

ADEQ is proposing to update its safe drinking water rules in order to conform to changes made to federal rules over the past seven years. ADEQ plans to incorporate by reference the Revised Total Coliform Rule into a new section, and make corresponding changes in other sections. ADEQ also plans to incorporate by reference the 2007 changes to the Lead and Copper Rule. ADEQ is authorized to enforce federal drinking water standards under A.R.S. § 49-353(A)(2)(a).

ADEQ has published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for updates to the Safe Drinking Water rules (18 A.A.C. 4, Articles 1 and 2). The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is available here (at page 2286): http://apps.azsos.gov/public_services/register/2015/41/04_proposed.pdf. Information on the Safe Drinking Water rulemaking and other ADEQ rulemaking is also available on ADEQ’s website.

State General Counsel Bret Parke Named ADEQ Deputy Director

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality announced today the appointment of Bret Parke, currently General Counsel for the State’s Department of Administration, as the agency’s deputy director. In his new capacity, Mr. Parke will serve as chief of staff to ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera and oversee the agency’s operations, including its budget and administrative support functions.

The appointment, effective Oct. 26, 2015, marks a return to ADEQ for Mr. Parke, who began his legal career as a staff attorney for the agency before eventually becoming its Administrative Counsel in 2010. He held that post until April 2012 when he was named ADOA General Counsel, where he provided legal advice on the state’s myriad administrative practices – everything from procurement and risk management to government accounting and finance, state facilities construction, IT security, and employment and personnel services. As General Counsel, Mr. Parke also chaired the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council, which oversees and approves adoption of state agency rules.

As Administrative Counsel at ADEQ, Mr. Parke served as the top legal advisor to the agency director. He also chaired five internal committees, managed ADEQ’s Strategic Enforcement Unit and was the agency’s representative on the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee.

“Bret wore many hats during his eight-year tenure with ADEQ, and his commitment to public service is evident in his 11-year career in Arizona government,” Director Cabrera said. “It’s Bret’s passion for ADEQ’s mission – his irrepressible drive to do more environmental good – that brings him back to ADEQ. His perspective and many of his qualities are quite similar to our former director, Henry Darwin, who was widely admired and respected both inside and outside of ADEQ,” Cabrera added.

ADEQ Reaches $1,250,000 Settlement with Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc.

Posted on by

PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. (ANPI), a nitric acid and ammonium nitrate-based products manufacturer in St. David, Cochise County, has settled with the State for years of past noncompliance with ANPI’s air quality control permit issued by ADEQ.

ANPI will pay a $500,000 civil penalty, and could be required to pay an additional suspended penalty up to $750,000 if ADEQ documents additional significant violations in the next three years.

Between August 2010 and February 2015, ADEQ issued ANPI eight separate Notices of Violation related to production processes at two nitric acid production plants. Alleged violations included failing five emissions tests for ammonia and ammonium nitrate, the inability of the continuous emissions monitors for NOx (nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) to pass accuracy tests on four occasions, and failure to calibrate, maintain and operate a continuous opacity monitor.

“By holding Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. accountable for its violations, the company has improved its operations, is now in compliance with its permit and public health and the environment are protected,” ADEQ Air Quality Division Director Eric Massey said.

ANPI has resolved the alleged violations and is now in compliance with the permit requirements.

The consent judgment is subject to court approval.

Background
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), NOx can damage respiratory airways and burn skin and eyes. Nitrogen dioxide also reacts with sunlight, which leads to formation of ozone and smog. ATSDR also states that exposure to high levels of ammonia can cause irritation and serious burns on the skin and in the mouth, throat, lungs, and eyes.

ADEQ Awards City of Winslow $86,000 Brownfields Grant for Cleanup at Former LZ Budget Motel along Historic Route 66

Posted on by

Photo Mean Mister Mustard, Panoramio

Photo Mean Mister Mustard, Panoramio

PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today an $86,000 brownfields grant to the City of Winslow to remove asbestos and lead-based paint from the former LZ Budget Motel located along historic Route 66 at 1102 E. 2nd St., Winslow in Navajo County. ADEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) will oversee this work.

Owned by the City of Winslow and located within the City’s redevelopment district in the heart of historic downtown, the approximate one-acre parcel former LZ Budget Motel site consists of four vacant structures in a severe state of deterioration due to previous fires, years of weathering and no maintenance. Unoccupied for years and the subject of frequent vandalism and vagrancy, this brownfields grant-funded environmental cleanup work is the next of several steps necessary to eliminate the blight and prepare the property for redevelopment that will emphasize the needs of the community and boost economic vitality.

“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 Waste Programs Division Director Laura Malone said. “Our staff works diligently with grant applicants to create customized solutions that maximize program benefits for each community’s unique needs.”

Brownfields are properties with active redevelopment potential 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.

30-Day Public Comment Period and Hearing

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) opens a 30-day public comment period today, September 28, 2015, for the proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the Regional Haze Rule (RHR), 5-Year Progress Report. The report addresses the RHR requirement under the Clean Air Act to submit a report describing progress in achieving reasonable progress goals to improve visibility in federally designated Class I areas in Arizona, as well as nearby states that may be affected by emissions from sources in Arizona.

The Class I areas include Grand Canyon National Park, the Petrified Forest Park and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area.

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October, 27, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in the ADEQ Building, Conference Room 3100B, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. All interested parties will be given an opportunity to submit their comments, data, and views both verbally and in writing.

Written comments shall state the name and mailing address of the person, be signed by the person, their agent or attorney, and clearly set forth reasons why the SIP revision should or should not be finalized. Grounds for comment are limited to whether the SIP revision meets the criteria spelled out in federal air pollution control laws or rules.

If you are unable to attend the public hearing, your written comments should be addressed, faxed, or e-mailed to Justine E. Miller, miller.justine@azdeq.gov, (602) 771-6723, Air Quality Division, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. Comments submitted via U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS must be postmarked on or before October 28, 2015.

Copies of the revisions’ proposal are available for review, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., in the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 771-4712. The proposal can also be accessed through ADEQ’s Website (PDF). The final SIP revision will be submitted to EPA following consideration of all comments received during the public notice period.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Waters Small Grants program is currently requesting proposals

Posted on by

Under this announcement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants for projects that will advance EPA’s water quality and environmental justice goals. Proposed projects will address urban runoff pollution through diverse partnerships that produce multiple community benefits, with emphasis on underserved communities. Note that proposed project activities must take place entirely within one of the Eligible Geographic Areas, as illustrated on the interactive map provided on the Urban Waters Small Grants mapping website at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants-mapping

The complexity and widespread impact of urban runoff pollution requires various levels of government and local stakeholders (e.g., community residents, local businesses, etc.) to work together in developing effective and long-term solutions with multiple benefits. EPA supports and empowers communities, especially underserved communities, that are working on solutions to address multiple community needs, and fostering successful collaborative partnerships. Projects should address local water quality issues related to urban runoff pollution; provide additional community benefits; actively engage underserved communities; and foster partnership.

The total estimated funding available for awards under this competition is approximately $1.6 million. EPA expects each award to range from $40,000 to $60,000. EPA Regional Offices will award the cooperative agreements resulting from this announcement. It is anticipated that each EPA Regional Office will award approximately two to three cooperative agreements. Funding is contingent upon Agency funding levels, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations.

Visit the Urban Waters Small Grants website to learn more about the program and how to submit a proposal at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants.

Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Please be sure to allow 3 weeks for your organization information to be updated in Grants.gov.

ADEQ Launches E-Waste Recycling Event Toolkit to Kick Off Pollution Prevention Week

Posted on by

PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today the agency’s launch of the online ADEQ E-Waste Recycling Event Toolkit (E-waste Toolkit), which includes best practices, marketing materials, contacts, and other educational materials to continue to support and expand Arizona cities’ and town’s efforts to properly recycle their electronic waste now and in the future. Interested public, private and non-profit sector organizations, may access the E-Waste Toolkit (both English and Spanish versions) at http://azdeq.gov/environ/waste/p2/ewastetoolkit/index.html

“ADEQ’s E-Waste Toolkit provides even inexperienced users with a roadmap for success in creating a recycling alternative to disposing used electronics in landfills and with expanding existing community recycling options,” said ADEQ Recycling Coordinator J.B. Shaw. He added, “Using the E-Waste Toolkit, communities can get ready and stay organized to collect tons of e-waste.”

Following two and a half years of development and testing, the web-based E-Waste Toolkit is a continuously improving, public-private collaboration among several parties and was funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission. Employees from five border-region municipalities – Nogales, Somerton, Sahuarita, San Luis, and Bisbee – helped refine the content of the E-Waste Toolkit by using it to plan and host their own e-waste collection and recycling events. To date, more than 20 tons of e-waste has been collected and recycled as a direct result of the E-Waste Toolkit testing.

A sixth event to support continuous improvement of the E-Waste Toolkit is being held in Sierra Vista during P2 Week on Sat., Sept. 26. See PDF flier for event details.

Since 2009, the more than one hundred ADEQ-sponsored e-waste events in more than 50 participating Arizona communities have collected and recycled more than 2.7 million pounds of e-waste.

Online launch of the E-Waste Toolkit is just one of the activities ADEQ is undertaking to increase pollution prevention awareness during P2 week. For a complete list of ADEQ P2 educational webinars, activities and resources, please check PDF file HERE.

ADEQ Announces New Search Feature for Public Records

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced today it now has available through its website an online search engine allowing faster, more direct access to the agency’s 19 environmental databases containing information such as a facility’s operating permits and compliance history.

Known as MegaSearch, the tool allows customers to enter search criteria such as a facility’s name and address or its unique ADEQ file number to view a list of relevant environmental records and files of interest. Once identified, the files may be selected from the results page and emailed to the ADEQ Records Center for retrieval and viewing. By conducting their own independent research, customers can save time by eliminating the need to wait for results from a traditional records request with the help of Records Center staff.

“MegaSearch helps prospective land and business owners or anyone who wants to see instantly what environmental activity has been reported for a given location,” ADEQ Records Manager Eric Flohr said.

For example, Flohr said if you previously had wanted to know if a nearby gas station had a history of leaking underground storage tanks, you would have contacted ADEQ to submit a research request. Staff would then have accessed these same databases now available online to see what records of activity had occurred at the site. The process could take several days depending on the number of pending research requests, he said.

“Tools like MegaSearch give customers direct and instantaneous access to ADEQ’s vast amounts of environmental data from all over the state, which supports more transparent government for our citizens,” Flohr said.

Big Park Wastewater Treatment Plant Pollutant Discharge renewal permit

Posted on by

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. 16-09 Published on August 28, 2015
Published in the Verde Independent

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0024082
Big Park Domestic Wastewater Improvement District (DWID)
Big Park Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
117 E. Gurley Street, #206
Prescott, AZ 86301

The Big Park Domestic DWID applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 0.7 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic wastewater from the Big Park WWTP to an unnamed wash, tributary to Jacks Canyon Wash in the Verde River Basin in Township 16 N, Range 6 E, Section 19, in Yavapai County, Arizona. The Big Park WWTP is a privately owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential sources in Big Park. Sludge is hauled to sludge drying beds off-site to Greywolf Landfill in Dewey, Arizona for disposal. Variances from the Verde River standards for nitrogen and phosphorus are proposed in the draft permit.

The permit and fact sheet may be viewed online here 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).