|
Phone:
602-506-2891
602-506-5063
Fax: 602-506-5939
| About
Risk Management - Environmental Division |
Risk
Management - Environmental Division was established in 1992 by Maricopa
County, as an owner/operator of regulated property, in response to the
ever-evolving environmental regulatory arena, and to comply with governmental
accounting standards for addressing a governmental entity's financial
exposure to environmental liability.
The Environmental Division of Risk Management conducts remedial investigations
and takes action to minimize County environmental liability as determined
by law, regulation, statute, and/or court order. The Division provides
leadership in the area of pollution prevention and environmental management,
and has developed a proactive assessment and action process that mitigates
environmental liabilities, saving the County in the cost of remedial action
and regulatory penalties. Possible environmental liability costs of known
sites have been reduced from previous estimates of over $500 million for
FY95-96, to approximately $38 million for FY05-06.
This
fiscal year the Division:
- Recovered $25,722
from the State of Arizona's Department of Environmental Quality for
actions related to a former leaking underground storage tank (UST) at
Towers Jail and for assessment of an orphan UST. Also recovered $6,060
from responsible party for damage to vapor monitoring wells at a former
County landfill.
- Completed Phase
I and II environmental characterizations for 2 former landfills - Rainbow
Valley and Morristown.
- Completed a study
of the vapor collection system at the New Cave Creek Landfill. Continued
groundwater monitoring at the site.
- Completed remediation
of burn pits and burn bin area at the MCSO Surprise Shooting Range.
- Completed Phase
II environmental assessment of Buckeye Hills shooting range.
- Completed Phase
I environmental assessments for 8 facilities. Completed assessments
for indoor air quality, asbestos, and mold at 7 additional facilities.
- Assisted Real Estate,
MCSO, MCDOT, and Air Quality in preparing Requests for Proposals for
environmental studies, indoor air quality, asbestos surveys, and air
permit reviews.
- Continued environmental
monitoring of a former County landfill. Installed passive landfill gas
vents at the site.
- Continued to provide
sound environmental compliance information to requesting departments.
The Division recognizes
that environmental risks are capable of being managed through risk control
and prevention measures. These measures include separation of hazardous
materials, effective pollution prevention and loss control techniques,
redundant controls and safety mechanisms, double and triple containment
of tanks and flow tubes, emergency response plans, and effective training
of employees. The Division will continue to seek to implement these measures.
| Other
Environmental Division Activities: |
-
Providing
internal environmental and technical consulting services to other
County departments, including Phase I, limited Phase II assessments,
and technical review of environmental issues identify and remedy potential
liabilities for regulation compliance.
-
Continual
refinement of the environmental report database and project cost spreadsheets.
-
Recovery
of monies from former insurance carriers, state assurance trusts,
and liability settlement trusts.
-
Providing
citizens with information regarding compliance and providing assistance
in contacting the appropriate Federal, State, and/or Local agency.
- Conduct groundwater
characterization at the Cave Creek Landfill in response to an ADEQ Consent
Order.
- Conduct environmental
assessments of two closed landfills.
- Conduct remediation
of burn pits at the Sheriff's Shooting Range in Surprise.
- Conduct environmental
assessments of County properties for sale or transfer.
- Obtain closure
of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank site at the Towers Jail.
Primary
efforts to date include:
-
Closure
and ownership transfer of the former White Mountain Fuel Storage Depot.
-
Closure
and ownership transfer of the Spreckles properties.
-
Completion
of investigation and remedial action at the Materials Warehouse, including
regulatory settlement and closure by ADEQ.
-
Regulatory
agency closure of several UST/leaking UST sites.
-
Identification
and abatement of asbestos and/or lead-based paint in various County
facilities.
-
Closure
of abandoned mines used for illegal dumping at San Tan Regional Park,
as well as for general safety of the public.
-
The
development and awarding of a comprehensive environmental consulting/services
contract.
| Links:
Environmental Compliance |
For access to Code of Federal Regulations, CLICK
HERE
For access to Arizona Regulations and Statutes, CLICK
HERE
Last
updated: 20 May, 2008, mdb
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