Through the Remedial Projects Section, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) identifies, assesses and cleans up soil, groundwater and surface water contaminated with hazardous substances. The program conducts these efforts throughout Arizona with support from state and federal funds. The program also oversees privately-funded cleanup efforts.

The Remedial Projects Section uses the Arizona Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF), created under the Environmental Quality Act of 1986, to support hazardous substance cleanup efforts in the state. The fund is dependent upon legislative appropriations, cost recovery from responsible parties, corporate income tax and special fees. The program identifies sites that are most in need of cleanup and adds them to the WQARF Registry. Sites on the Registry receive first consideration for distribution of funds.

Some sites in Arizona are governed and funded by the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund. Sites that pose the greatest potential threat to human health and the environment are put on the National Priorities List (NPL). There are nine NPL Superfund sites in Arizona, two of which are divided into north and south portions. In addition to the NPL and the WQARF Registry sites, the Superfund Programs Section also provides state review and oversight at 12 Department of Defense (DoD) sites.

• WQARF 2007 Annual Registry Report
• WQARF Registry

Cost Recovery

Parties responsible for causing contamination at sites in the WQARF and Superfund programs are identified and notified of potential liability, and legal and technical information is gathered for recovery of ADEQ's costs and for enforcement of cleanup requirements. The parties ultimately found responsible in WQARF and Superfund actions are liable for paying costs of remedial actions required or monitored by ADEQ. The recovered dollars are then deposited back into WQARF.

Voluntary Remediation Program

A property owner or other interested party may wish to initiate remedial or cleanup actions at a site on a voluntary basis. To start the process, ADEQ requires that the interested party sign an application that contains a reimbursement agreement for costs associated with ADEQ's oversight of the remediation or cleanup efforts. The major benefit of this program for the voluntary party is the opportunity of receiving a no further action determination from ADEQ in an expedited period of time.

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