[ADEQ Media] Regulatory Review Council Approves ADEQ Standards to Protect Arizona Waters from Pollution

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

Regulatory Review Council Approves ADEQ Standards to Protect Arizona
Waters from Pollution 

PHOENIX (Dec. 3, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced today that the Governor's
Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) has approved standards developed by
ADEQ to protect surface water quality throughout the state.  GRRC is the
state body required to review regulations of state agencies before they
can become law.

"These standards are long overdue and are absolutely essential to
protect Arizona's precious water resources," said Director Owens.  "The
people of this state deserve clean water in our rivers, lakes and
streams."

Among other protections, the standards designate two water bodies as
Outstanding Arizona Waters.  They are Fossil Creek, a major tributary of
the Verde River and the boundary between Gila and Yavapai counties, and
Davidson Canyon, a tributary of Cienega Creek in Pima County. 

"The designations allow ADEQ to protect the water quality of these
creeks, and give them the highest level of protection from pollution and
degradation of their outstanding water quality," Director Owens said.  

The new standards also protect lakes and reservoirs from being choked by
weeds and algae. They also ensure the biological integrity of perennial
streams and protect them from excessive sedimentation, which can limit
or kill fish and other aquatic life. 

In addition, the standards add prohibitions against discharges to the
Vekol and Smith washes upstream of the Ak Chin Indian Community near the
city of Maricopa in Pinal County. The prohibitions recognize the value
of these washes, which are of great significance to the Ak Chin. 

ADEQ issues the standards under the federal Clean Water Act, which
requires the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency and
requires states to review the standards every three years. The new
standards become effective in February 2009.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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