ADEQ: Compliance: Small Communities Environmental Compliance Assistance

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Compliance: Small Communities Environmental Compliance Assistance

Bisbee Arizona 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.

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.

Appendix B Template Small Community Environmental Protection Plan Instructions, Examples, & Forms
The Appendix B Template is a part of A Guide for Developing and Implementing a Small Community Environmental Protection Plan (SCEPP) manual and provides instructions on developing procedures, completed examples, flow diagrams and corresponding blank forms, to aid in the development and implementation of a Small Community Environmental Protection Plan.

Download a quick reference SCEPP presentation in pdf format.

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.

Participating Communities

Other Small Community Resources

EPA's Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
EPA's Wastewater in Small Communities - Links to technical and 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.
Sustainable Earth Initiative (SEI) - In partnership with the EPA, 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.

Arizona's Small Communities Outreach Program Brochure - Funding provided by ECOS.

Asbestos and Open Burning Permits

What Small Communities and Firefighters Need to Know About Asbestos in Buildings Brochure - Information for small communities and fire districts of asbestos requirements for fire training burns. Funding provided by ECOS.
What Small Communities Need to Know about Asbestos Demolition and Renovation Practices
EPA's Asbestos Information

Safe Drinking Water Program

The Engineering Review Program performs the review of Approvals to Construct (ATC) and Approvals of Construction (AOC) for drinking water systems including wells, tanks, booster pumps, disinfection devices, point-of-use systems, pools/spas, blending plans, water treatment plants, and water distribution systems. Information (technical, engineering and application guidance) is available at Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Systems.

Arizona's Drinking Water rules have been amended to incorporate the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations by reference. This new rulemaking now comprises Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 18, Chapter 4 .

To assist water system owners and operators, ADEQ has prepared an unofficial version of 18 A.A.C. 4, combining the final state rules with those federal requirements incorporated by reference. This document is entitled Unofficial Combined State and Federal Drinking Water Rules.

ADEQ Engineering Bulletin No. 8, Disinfection of Water Systems (1978)
ADEQ Engineering Bulletin No. 10, Guidelines for the Construction of Water Systems (1978)
Drinking Water in Small Communities and Special Districts Brochure - Information on operating a public water system. Funding provided by ECOS.
Lead and Copper Monitoring and Reporting Brochure - Information to help small communities avoid and/or correct this most common drinking water system violation in Arizona. Funding provided by ECOS.
Water and Wastewater Workshops - For owners and operators of public water systems.
Safe Drinking Water Program - Forms, guidance documents and other materials for public water system owners and operators.
Operator Certification - For drinking water treatment and distribution facilities.
Expense Reimbursement Grant workshops - Available to certified operators of community and nontransient, noncommunity public water systems serving less than 3,300 persons, through
De Minimus General Permit - For discharge of pollutants associated with certain potable water system activities.
Monitoring Assistance Program (MAP) - Collects several types of required samples for small community and non-transient, non-community water systems.
EPA's Small Public Water Systems and Capacity Development - Resource for small public water systems.
Subscribe to the Drinking Water/Wastewater Operator Certification mailing list for workshops, training and stakeholder meetings related to drinking water and wastewater system operator certification and rules.

Wastewater Management

The Engineering Review Program performs the review of Construction Authorizations and Discharge Authorizations for sewage systems (both collection systems and onsite wastewater systems) including lift stations, force mains, gravity sewers, manholes, and septic/alternative systems.

Wastewater in Small Communities and Special Districts Brochure - Information on permitting and operating a sewer system. Funding provided by ECOS.
Water and Wastewater Workshops - For owners and operators of wastewater facilities.
Operator Certification - Information for wastewater collection and treatment facilities.
Aquifer Protection Permits (APP) - Required for wastewater treatment plants.
Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZDPES) Permits - Required for discharge to waters of the United States.
Reclaimed Water Permits - Required for reuse of reclaimed water.
ADEQ approval is required prior to construction of sewage collection systems.
Biosolids/Sewage Sludge Management Program - Enforcement authority in Arizona.

Brownfields Assistance Program

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 Management

Recycling grants are available to small communities on a competitive basis.
Earth 911 can be queried by zip code for recycling opportunities.

Hazardous Waste Management

Statutes and Rules

State environmental statutes: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49
State environmental rules: Arizona Administrative Code Title 18
Federal environmental rules: Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 .

Financial Assistance

Water and Wastewater financial and technical assistance organizations include the following:

Compliance Assistance

Permits

To determine which environmental permits are potentially applicable to an operation or activity, and track the status of a permit application.

Small communities should be aware that community based operations may require Air Quality Control Permits from ADEQ. Operations such as water pumping stations, wastewater treatment plants, and sewer lift stations that have electrical generators, including those installed for standby power purposes often require air quality permits. In addition, other equipment such as rock crushing and screening equipment and boilers rated at more than 1 million Btu heat input may also require air quality permits. Small communities seeking to install these types of operations should contact ADEQ's Air Quality Permits Section at (602) 771-2337 or (602) 771-2338, for assistance. Download applications for these types of operations.

Stormwater permits applicable to small communities:

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;
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
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?

Is there information which your small community or special district would like added? Please contact Byron James, ADEQ Community Liaison, with your comments or find a Community Liaison near you.

For additional information, please contact Henry Darwin, ADEQ Ombudsman

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