[ADEQ Media] ADEQ to Conduct Cleanups of Migrant Trash from Border Crossings in Santa Cruz County

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ to Conduct Cleanups of Migrant Trash from Border Crossings in Santa
Cruz County

PHOENIX (Jan. 24, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ will participate
in three cleanups on Saturday, Jan. 26 in Santa Cruz County to remove
waste discarded during border crossings by undocumented migrants along
trails in Santa Cruz County in the riparian area of the Santa Cruz
River.

ADEQ is participating in the cleanups as part of its Undocumented
Migrant (UDM) Waste Project, through the department's Office of Border
Environmental Protection. In addition to providing logistical support,
cleaning equipment and volunteers for the cleanups, ADEQ has worked with
Santa Cruz County officials to acquire containers to store the trash
during the cleanups. An estimated 10,000 pounds of water bottles, food
containers and other waste are expected to be cleaned up and moved to
the Rio Rico Landfill. 

"The trashing of the desert by border crossers is a huge problem,"
Director Owens said. "We have been working with officials at the federal
and local levels, as well as community groups, to develop a strategy for
addressing this enormous issue and organizing cleanups of waste that has
been left in the desert."

The three cleanups along the Santa Cruz River in which ADEQ is
participating are:

*	Rancho Esperanza, a 300-acre property just south of Tubac
managed by the Tucson Audubon Chapter. The ranch has a "conservation
easement," which means the owners have agreed to protect the
environment. The Audubon Society has helped organize the cleanup.  

*	The community of Tubac, for a cleanup planned by students from
the Rio Rico High School Interact Club, and assisted by volunteers from
the Friends of the Santa Cruz River, the Anza Trail Coalition of
Arizona, local developers and residents.

*	The Tumacacori National Historic Park, where despite recent
cleanups significant waste has accumulated along the Santa Cruz River.
Rangers and park volunteers are helping organize and implement the
cleanup. 

In addition to its UDM Waste Project, ADEQ has a broader, ongoing effort
to address the overall problem of illegal dumping throughout Arizona.
The agency has established a program to work with local officials to
prevent illegal dumping and clean up illegal dump sites across the
state.  

 "Dealing with the problem of illegal dumping is a priority," Owens
said. "Illegal dumping poses a serious threat to public health and the
environment, as well as to the well-being of communities. We are
committed to working with local leaders to address this major problem in
our state." 

ADEQ's UDM Waste Project is funded partly by a grant from the U.S
Environmental Protection Agency and the Border Environment Cooperation
Commission through the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Environmental Program.

-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.

**********************************************************************
NOTICE: This e-mail (and any attachments) may contain PRIVILEGED OR 
CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the specific 
individual(s) to whom it is addressed.  It may contain information that is 
privileged and confidential under state and federal law.  This information 
may be used or disclosed only in accordance with law, and you may be 
subject to penalties under law for improper use or further disclosure of the 
information in this e-mail and its attachments. If you have received this e-
mail in error, please immediately notify the person named above by reply e-
mail, and then delete the original e-mail.  Thank you.