Tag Archives: Environment

Kaibab National Forest to implement large grassland restoration project

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will soon be able to begin implementation of a large-scale grassland restoration project across the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts thanks to a decision signed today by District Ranger Danelle D. Harrison.

The South Zone Grassland Restoration Project will implement thinning, prescribed fire and other activities to restore the structure and function of grassland and pinyon-juniper grassland, also referred to as savanna, ecosystems in an effort to improve their resilience to disturbance and changing climate regimes.

Specifically, Harrison’s decision allows for a combination of commercial and non-commercial mechanical treatments as well as prescribed fire on approximately 80,000 acres of grasslands and 63,000 acres of pinyon-juniper grasslands within the 550,000-acre project area, which covers large portions of both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest. These areas represent historical occurrences of grasslands and pinyon-juniper grasslands on the South Zone.

As part of these treatments, conifers – primarily juniper – will be selectively removed using mechanical means or hand thinning. Additionally, thinning will be used to restore connectivity between grassland habitats for wildlife species such as pronghorn antelope. Broadcast and pile burning will be used where necessary to reduce fuel loading, control regeneration of conifers, and promote understory plant vigor.The decision includes a number of other provisions including collaborating with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to both install wildlife waters in strategic locations to encourage the movement of ungulates and other wildlife species and to translocate populations of Gunnison prairie dogs to serve their role as a keystone species in grassland ecosystems and assist with the mixing of soil contents.

The purpose of this project is to restore the structure and function of the South Zone’s grasslands and pinyon-juniper grasslands by reducing tree densities, reestablishing natural fire regimes, and promoting grassland-associated wildlife species. As a result of historical livestock grazing, fire suppression, changes in wildlife populations, and climate change, these areas have experienced substantial encroachment and infilling by woody species over the last century. This has reduced habitat quality and connectivity, and impacted nutrient cycling and water availability.

“This decision is significant due to the important ecological role that grasslands play,” Harrison said. “We recognize the value of these ecosystems, and we also recognize that they have been greatly altered over the past century. The South Zone Grassland Restoration Project will help set us on a course to functioning, healthy grasslands that can support a variety of species.”

To review all analysis and documentation associated with the South Zone Grassland Restoration Project including the Final Environmental Assessment, a Final Finding of No Significant Impact, and a Final Decision Notice, please visit the Kaibab National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44132.

Members of the public can find additional information on the Kaibab National Forest through the following sources:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Governor Ducey Proclaims Arizona Pollution Prevention Week Sept. 18 – 24, 2016

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that Governor Douglas A. Ducey has designated the week of September 18 – 24 by proclamation as Arizona Pollution Prevention (P2) Week. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the ADEQ P2 Program encourages the general public, schools, local governments and businesses to be a part of Arizona P2 Week and learn about steps we all can incorporate in our daily routines to prevent and reduce waste, improve the health of our communities and environment, and elevate our standard of living.

Governor Ducey noted that “National Pollution Prevention Week” is an opportunity for government and the private sector to focus attention on how P2 saves businesses and taxpayers money and conserves Arizona’s natural resources for future generations.

“As one of our nation’s first Pollution Prevention Programs, ADEQ’s P2 Program benefits both our participants and our state by supporting production processes that improve environmental quality and economic competitiveness,” ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera said. “Now in our 25th year, we’re demonstrating that ADEQ’s P2 Program in Arizona is creating an environment in which new processes and technologies are helping industry to reduce pollution while also enhancing operational efficiency and business productivity.”

To celebrate and increase public awareness, each weekday during P2 Week, ADEQ will share valuable information, tools and resources via Facebook, Twitter and our website, focusing each day on one P2 source reduction theme including trash, transportation, food, energy and water, and air.

ADEQ also will host two free webinars that showcase real-world examples of how ADEQ P2 Program participants have reduced waste and pollution, increased efficiency and saved money. Arizona businesses meeting any one of three P2 thresholds (http://www.azdeq.gov/p2_thresholds) are required to create and implement a plan to minimize the use of toxic substances and/or generation of hazardous waste. P2 webinar topics will include P2 Program facilities’ environmental achievements in the areas of reducing solid and hazardous waste generation, toxic substance use substitution and reduction, reducing energy and water consumption, and industry best management practices. In addition, ADEQ will provide an overview of its Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP), including participant benefits.

ADEQ encourages Arizona businesses and the interested public to register for the following P2 Week free webinars:

Tues, Sept. 20, 2016 – 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (MST)
P2 Webinar Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4940255654047033347
Presenters: Ping, Inc., Grand Canyon Railway and United Dairymen of Arizona

Wed, Sept. 21, 2016 – 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (MST)
P2 Webinar Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2264067441784591874
Presenters: Boeing Mesa, Intel Ocotillo and ADEQ VESP

View the Arizona Pollution Prevention Week proclamation and learn more about the ADEQ P2 Program and National Pollution Prevention Week by visiting:

http://azdeq.gov/p2_proclamation_2016
http://www.azdeq.gov/programs/waste-programs/pollution-prevention-p2-planning-program
http://www2.epa.gov/p2week

ADEQ, ADOT and Keep Arizona Beautiful Host Free Environmental Resources Roadshows in Williams and Prescott Valley

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and Keep Arizona Beautiful (KAZB) staff will conduct two “Environmental Resources Roadshows,” where attendees will learn about ways to improve their local environment.

The meetings will be held at:

  • Williams
    Tuesday, May 24, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    Williams Council Chambers
    113 S 1st Street
    Williams, AZ 86046
  • Prescott Valley
    Wednesday, May 25, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
    Chamber of Commerce
    7120 Pav Way, Suite 102
    Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

ADEQ and Partners Host Free Environmental Resources Roadshows in Payson and Holbrook

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PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that ADEQ, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Adopt a Highway Volunteer Programs and Keep Arizona Beautiful (KAZB) staff will conduct two “Environmental Resources Roadshows”:

Payson
Wed., Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Payson Council Chambers
303 N. Beeline Highway
Payson, AZ 85541

Holbrook
Thurs., Dec. 3, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Navajo County Courthouse Auditorium
100 E. Arizona St.
Holbrook, AZ 86025

ADEQ encourages community members, business people, public officials, and school representatives in Payson, Holbrook and the surrounding area to attend one of the no-cost, two-hour events. Following brief presentations, attendees can engage in open dialogue and participate in a question and answer session.

Topics

  • ADEQ: successful municipal recycling programs such as electronic waste and food recovery
  • ADEQ: how communities can benefit from ADEQ’s brownfields grants and technical expertise
  • ADOT: volunteer process for adopting sections of Arizona highways for litter cleanup
  • KAZB: statewide litter prevention, recycling and beautification programs

If you are interested in the Environmental Resources Roadshow presenting in your community in 2016, please call one of the listed contacts.

Background
ADEQ’s recycling program, which began 1991, has facilitated recycling initiatives in every county in Arizona. Currently, the program focuses on hosting environmental roadshows across the state, particularly in rural areas, to educate Arizonans about what they can do to establish or enhance recycling programs to protect and preserve their environment. For detailed information, please visit:

  • Recycling: http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/solid/recycle.html
  • Electronic waste recycling: http://azdeq.gov/environ/waste/p2/ewastetoolkit/index.html
  • Food recovery: http://www2.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food

Brownfields are properties with active redevelopment potential hindered by known or perceived environmental contamination. ADEQ’s non-competitive brownfields grant program has funded more than 50 projects assisting local governments and nonprofits in completing environmental assessments and cleanups. 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. Visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/cleanup/brownfields.html.

Free Biohazardous Medical Waste Workshop Scheduled To be Held in Show Low on Wednesday, Nov. 12

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ADEQ-2PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced today that a free bio-hazardous medical waste compliance seminar will be held for interested parties in the White Mountains region in Show Low on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. in the Frontier Conference Room of the Navajo County Public Health Services District, 600 N. 9th Place, and is sponsored by ADEQ’s Waste Programs Division Solid Waste Inspection and Compliance staff.

The workshop will offer an overview of bio-hazardous medical waste rules in Arizona and help attendees understand those rules. In addition, tattoo parlor regulations will be discussed along with recent changes in ADEQ rules and regulations. There also will be a question and answer session with seminar attendees.

“The material from these workshops is important for health-care providers in understanding how to protect the human health and environment of our state,” said ADEQ Director Henry Darwin.

Space for the workshop is limited and all those interested in attending should RSVP by 5 p.m. on Nov. 11 with ADEQ’s Daniel Salzler at (602) 771-4119 or ds2@azdeq.gov.

Lake Mead is shrinking — and with it Las Vegas’ water supply

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LAKE MEAD, Nev.—When you head out on Nevada’s Lake Mead, the first thing you notice is a white line. That’s where the water used to be.

What did this look like a decade ago?

“This was all underwater,” said Pat Mulroy, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. “I mean boats were everywhere. There was a whole marina here.”

Mulroy said that the drought began 14 years ago. Satellite photos show the Colorado River, which feeds Lake Mead, is drying up — so the lake is rapidly shrinking. Islands are growing, and boats are floating far from where they once were.

Read more at CBS News

Unmasking Liberalism on the Arizona Range

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The Drake Exclosure --- The American Thinker

The Drake Exclosure — The American Thinker

When I bring environmentalists here and ask them what they would do to remedy this apparent failure of one of their most basic principles, invariably, they say they would continue to protect the area even though that policy has failed for 66+ years.

By Dan Dagget
May 18, 2013

Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned about liberalism I’ve learned from an unexpected source — nature. Some of the clearest and most instructive of those lessons have come from a U. S. Forest Service “study area” in the central Arizona high desert.

In 1946, the U. S. Forest Service erected a fence around a portion of an area exhausted by human overuse and misuse in this arid rangeland to demonstrate one of the core principles of modern liberal environmentalism — that the best way to restore damaged land to ecological health is to protect it from the impacts of humans. Today, the Drake Exclosure (The Drake) (PDF) has been under the beneficent care of nature alone for more than 66 years, but…

Rather than the revived Eden one would expect to find after 66 years of environmental protection, much of the Drake, today, is as bare as a well-used parking lot.

“Actually, it looks pretty much the same as it did back in 1946,” said a Forest Service scientist studying the area, “but the trees were smaller.”

Read more at the American Thinker