A Guide for Developing and Implementing a Small Community Environmental Protection Plan (SCEPP) This manual is designed to be used by small communities and special districts in identifying, prioritizing, correcting, and preventing future environmental compliance problems by addressing all levels of infrastructure. New! Download a quick reference SCEPP presentation in pdf format.

On Nov. 3, 2005, Director Owens announced the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's program to provide compliance assistance to Arizona's small communities. This effort has been launched with the assistance of a grant from the Environmental Council of States (ECOS).

ECOS supported three pilot projects to develop and promote sustained comprehensive environmental compliance by small local governments. Grants were awarded to Arizona, South Carolina and Tennessee.

ADEQ is seeking to make it easier for small communities to meet the requirements of the law, especially small communities in rural Arizona. The goal is to provide small communities with the assistance they may need in light of their limited resources. The focal point of this project is ADEQ's policy, entitled "Small Community Policy".

With funding provided by ECOS, a Small Communities Environmental Compliance Assistance brochure has been prepared to inform small communities of the benefits of this program and the assistance which can be provided by ADEQ.

Additional guidance documents and templates for small communities will be made available on-line as they are developed. Small communities are encouraged to visit this site periodically and to contact ADEQ for more information.

Other Small Community Resources

• Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Small Communities contains links to technical assistance, financial assistance and education and training for small communities.
• The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network enables local government officials to interact with their peers online.
• The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network Toolbox is designed to help local governments meet their environmental obligations.
• In partnership with the EPA, Sustainable Earth Initiative (SEI) offers assistance to public entities with development of Environmental Management Systems to help them realize environmental and economic benefits.

Community Outreach Program
ADEQ's Community Outreach Program was created to better serve the needs of Arizona residents. The program consists of five ADEQ employees: four Community Liaisons, and the agency's Ombudsman. With funding provided by ECOS, an Arizona's Small Communities Outreach Program brochure has been prepared to detail who these ADEQ staff are, what they do and how to contact them.

Asbestos and Open Burning Resources

• With funding provided by ECOS, a What Small Communities and Firefighters Need to Know About Asbestos in Buildings brochure has been prepared to inform small communities and fire districts of asbestos requirements for fire training burns.
• What Small Communities Need to Know about Asbestos Demolition and Renovation Practices
• ADEQ's Asbestos page includes information to help small communities, including notification forms and the State of Arizona Asbestos Contact Directory.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pages include asbestos information .
• Unless specifically exempted by the rule, persons setting outdoor fires must obtain an open burning permit from ADEQ or a delegated permitting authority.

Drinking Water Resources

• ADEQ Engineering Bulletin No. 8, Disinfection of Water Systems (1978)
• ADEQ Engineering Bulletin No. 10, Guidelines for the Construction of Water Systems (1978)
• With funding provided by ECOS, a Drinking Water in Small Communities and Special Districts brochure has been prepared with basic information on operating a public water system.
• With funding provided by ECOS, a lead and copper monitoring and reporting brochure has been prepared to help small communities avoid and/or correct this most common drinking water system violation in Arizona.
• ADEQ offers water and wastewater workshops for owners and operators of public water systems.
• Our Safe Drinking Water pages contain forms and guidance documents and other materials for public water system owners and operators.
• Operator certification information for drinking water treatment and distribution facilities is also available.
• Educational assistance is available to certified operators of community and nontransient, noncommunity public water systems serving less than 3,300 persons, through Expense Reimbursement Grant workshops .
• A De Minimus General Permit is available for discharge of pollutants associated with certain potable water system activities.
• The ADEQ Monitoring Assistance Program was established to collect several types of required samples for small community and non-transient, non-community water systems.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Small Systems Information and Guidance site is a resource for small public water systems.
• Owners and operators of public water systems, including small community officials, are encouraged to subscribe to ADEQ's Drinking Water/Wastewater Operator Certification mailing list, for periodic e-mail updates on training opportunities, regulatory changes, funding and technical assistance resources, etc.

Wastewater Resources

• ADEQ Engineering Bulletin No. 11, Minimum Requirements for Design, Submission of Plans and Specifications of Sewage Works. While Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 18 Chapter 9 contains the regulatory standards for wastewater treatment facilities, sewage collection systems, etc., Bulletin No. 11 is a useful reference document. Most importantly, wastewater owners and operators should adhere to the standards in A.A.C.
• With funding provided by ECOS, a Wastewater in Small Communities and Special Districts brochure has been prepared with basic information on permitting and operating a sewer system.
• ADEQ offers water and wastewater workshops for owners and operators of wastewater facilities.
• Operator certification information for wastewater collection and treatment facilities is available.
• Wastewater permitting information can be accessed online. Aquifer Protection Permits (APP) are required for wastewater treatment plants; AZDPES permits are required for discharge to waters of the United States; reclaimed water permits are required for reuse of reclaimed water; and ADEQ approval is required prior to construction of sewage collection systems.
• ADEQ is the biosolids/sewage sludge program and enforcement authority in Arizona.

Brownfields Resources
Brownfields are abandoned or under-used properties with an active redevelopment potential that is complicated by either real or perceived environmental contamination. Brownfields funding assistance is a tool available to small communities.

Solid Waste Resources

• ADEQ offers recycling grants, available to small communities on a competitive basis.
• Earth 911 can be queried by zip code for recycling opportunities.
• ADEQ solid waste information.

Hazardous Waste Resources

Underground Storage Tanks Resources
The Municipal Tank Closure Program assists small communities with removal of abandoned underground storage tanks, and funding is available to reimburse local governments for application costs.

Statutes and Rules

• Federal environmental rules are found in Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 .
• State environmental statutes are found in the Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49 , accessible from the Arizona State Legislature. The state environmental rules implementing these statutes are found in Arizona Administrative Code Title 18 , and can be accessed from the Arizona Secretary of State.

Funding Assistance
ADEQ's Web site contains funding assistance information.

Additionally, water and wastewater funding and technical assistance organizations include the following:

• Arizona Department of Housing
• Arizona Small Utilities Association
• Greater Arizona Development Authority
• Rural Community Assistance Corporation (Arizona contact: Fred Warren at (520) 770-9882)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Financing for Environmental Compliance
• Water and Wastewater Capital Improvements and Financing (RWIC)
• Water Infrastructure Finance Authority

ADEQ Compliance Assistance
ADEQ's Web site contains broad compliance assistance resources, including a copy of the Compliance and Enforcement Handbook.

Permit Assistance
Small communities can use the ADEQ permitting page to determine which environmental permits are potentially applicable to an operation or activity, and track the status of a permit application.

Stormwater permits are applicable to small communities:

1. Construction projects anywhere in the state (except on Indian lands) which will disturb at least one acre of land (and those projects disturbing less than one acre but are part of a common plan of development) must file a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the Construction General Permit;
2. The requirements of the Multi-Sector General Permit often apply to certain small community-owned facilities, including landfills, airports, equipment maintenance facilities and wastewater treatment plants with a design flow of at least one million gallons per day; and
3. The term, "Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems" (MS4) refers to any city, town, county or other municipality's storm sewer system. Some of these MS4s are regulated under the MS4 storm water permits program. A list of these regulated communities is available online.

Comments?
Do you have any comments about this Web page? Is there information which your small community or special district would like added? Please contact Byron James, ADEQ Community Liaison, with your comments.

Additional Contact Information

• Brian Davidson, ADEQ Ombudsman

Community Liaisons

• Northwestern Arizona, (928) 779-0313
• Northeastern Arizona, (928) 337-3565
• Southwestern Arizona, (928) 373-9432
• Southeastern Arizona, (928) 348-3040

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