SB1493 environmental quality; dredge, fill permits is now on Governor Ducey's desk.

SB1493 environmental quality; dredge, fill permits is now on Governor Ducey's desk. 

Please call Governor Ducey and ask him to veto SB1493. You can reach his office at (602) 542-4331.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is pursuing control of an important Clean Water Act program that helps to protect washes and wetlands. The Sierra Club is concerned that the agency does not have the resources to properly fund and enforce these programs and that there will be inadequate consultation with tribal entities, and inadequate consideration of endangered species and cultural resource protections.

SB1493 environmental quality; dredge, fill permits allows ADEQ to pursue state control of the Clean Water Act dredge and fill permit program that protects wetlands and washes and ultimately our waters. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the state would have a robust public process and it is quite likely the state would try to eliminate any consultation related to endangered species. Further, the state has no comparable National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, so no real evaluation of alternatives would be required.

- Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged and fill materials into waters of the United States, including wetlands.