in Arizona

Fiscal Budgets Arizona state budget and finances Tax policy in Arizona Finance Financial regulation in Arizona Pensions Public pensions in Arizona Pension health in Arizona Civil liberties Affirmative action in Arizona Campaign finance requirements in Arizona Campaign finance requirements for Arizona ballot measures Nonprofit regulation in Arizona Education Charter schools in Arizona Higher education in Arizona Public education in Arizona School choice in Arizona Elections Ballot access Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Arizona Ballot access requirements for political parties in Arizona Political parties in Arizona Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Arizona Redistricting in Arizona Voting in Arizona Energy andEnvironment Energy policy in Arizona Fracking in Arizona Oil and gas extraction on federal land in Arizona Endangered species in Arizona Environmental policy in Arizona Healthcare Healthcare policy in Arizona Medicaid spending in Arizona Effect of the Affordable Care Act in Arizona Immigration Immigration in Arizona

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Environmental policy in Arizona
Environmental policy in other states Endangered species in Arizona

Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. This is done mainly through laws and regulation passed at all governmental levels and influenced by many stakeholders with different agendas.

Budget

Environmental budget

Arizona spent $208.2 million in its Environmental Quality and Game and Fish departments in fiscal year 2015.

Air

Clean Air Act

See also:Implementation of the Clean Air Act

TheClean Air Act is a federal law aimed at maintaining air quality and reducing air pollution. The law requires states and private industries to meet national air pollution standards. Each state must implement an EPA-approved plan to reduceair pollutants from industrial facilities such as chemical plants and utilities. Over 42,000 facilities nationwide were regulated under the Clean Air Act in 2015.^[1][2][3]

Arizona had 289 facilities regulated under the Clean Air Act in 2014.

Mercury and air toxics standards

Federalmercury and air toxics standards target mercury and other hazardous pollutants from 580coal andoil-fired power plants nationwide. The standards are meant to reduce human exposure to mercury emissions.^[4][5]

As of April 2016, Arizona was one of 21 states that challenged the mercury standards in federal court.In June 2015, theU.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the EPA did not properly consider the regulation's costs and mandated the agency perform a cost-benefit analysis. The ruling did not strike down the mercury standards but required the EPA to conduct a more extensive cost-benefit analysis by April 2016. The EPA issued its cost-benefit analysis on April 18, 2016.^[6][7][8][9]

As of 2015, Arizona had 11 power plants subject to the mercury standards.^[10]

Ozone standards

See also:Ground-level ozone standards

Federalozone standards establish the acceptable amount of ground levelozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when nitrogen oxide combines with other organic chemicals in the atmosphere. Automobiles, power plants, factories and manufacturing centers emit the nitrogen oxide necessary for ozone formation. In high concentrations, ozone is harmful to human health.^[11][12]

In 2015, the EPA lowered the acceptable amount of ground-level ozone (smog) in the air. The standards went into effect in 2025. States would have between the years 2020 and 2037 to create and establish a plan to meet the standards, depending how much ozone forms in certain areas of a state.^[13][14]

Clean Power Plan

See also:Clean Power Plan andclimate change

In 2015, the EPA finalized a regulatory action aimed at mitigating potentially human-causedclimate change known as theClean Power Plan. The plan's goal is to reducecarbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions fromcoal- andoil-fired power plants (fossil fuel-fired) andnatural gas-fired power plants by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Each state would have to meet goals based on the number of fossil fuel- and natural gas-fired plants in the state.^[15][16][17]

As of February 2017, Arizona was one of the 27 states that challenged the plan in court while 18 states supported the plan. As of February 2017, 45 states took a stance on the Clean Power Plan.^[18][19]

In February 2016, by a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily delayed the plan's implementation pending a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. As of March 30, 2017, the circuit court had not issued a ruling.^[19][20]

On March 28, 2017, PresidentDonald Trump (R) issued an executive order directing the EPA to consider formally repealing the Clean Power Plan.^[21]

Carbon dioxide reductions under the Clean Power Plan

Arizona power plants would have to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 33.57 percent by the year 2030 if the plan were fully implemented.^[22]

Carbon dioxide emissions by energy source

In 2013, coal accounted for 45.8 percent of Arizona's emissions—43 million metric tons—followed by petroleum and natural gas at 34.9 percent and 19.3 percent, respectively.

Carbon dioxide emissions by sector

Around 58 percent of Arizona's emissions came from the electric power sector in 2013. The transportation sector accounted for 31.8 percent of Arizona's emissions in 2013.

Land

Federal land policy

See also:Federal land policy

Federal land policy involves theconservation and management ofnatural resources on land owned by the federal government. Most federal land policies focus on conservation, recreation, oil and natural gas extraction, wildlife and forest management, and grazing.

As of 2013, the federal government owned around 640 million total acres of land (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four federal agencies oversee between 608 million to 610 million acres of federal land—around 26 percent of all land in the United States. Depending on the agency responsible for them, these lands may be used for conservation, recreation, wildlife protection,grazing,energy production and other purposes.^[23]

Around 52 percent of federally owned acres are in 12 Western states—includingAlaska, 61 percent of which is federally owned. In contrast, the federal government owns 4 percent of the land in the other 38 states.^[23]

Federal land ownership

Arizona had more than 38 percent of its land owned by the federal government in 2013.

The map below details changes to federal land ownership between 1990 and 2013. Federal land in Arizona decreased by 6.3 million acres—a decrease of 22.6 percent.

Land management by agency

The table below shows the number of acres managed by federal agency in 2013.

National parks

As of December 2015, theU.S. National Park Service oversaw 409 sites within the National Park System and assists in managing national historic areas, wild and scenic rivers, historic landmarks, and national trails. As of December 2015, the National Park System contained more than 84 million acres, including national parks, historical parks and sites, national monuments, battlefields and military parks, recreation areas, seashores, and parkways. Around 280 million visitors attended sites in the National Park System in 2014. The National Park Service employed around 20,000 permanent, temporary and seasonal employees as of July 2015.^[24]

Arizona had 23 National Park Service sites as of January 2016. A complete list of Park Service sites in Arizona can be foundhere.

Park visits and visitor spending

Arizona had more than 10.7 million total visits in 2014, which generated more than $837 million in visitor spending.

Payments in lieu of taxes

TheU.S. Department of the Interior pays local governments each year to offset what they lose in property taxes due to non-taxable federal land within their borders, commonly known aspayments in lieu of taxes (PILT). PILT payments go toward fire and police departments, public schools, road construction, and other local services. PILT amounts are based on population and the amount of federal land in a county. From 1977 (when PILT payments began) to 2015, the Interior Department paid out around $7.1 billion to states, territories andWashington, D.C. PILT payments can be used for any governmental purpose.^[25][26]

Arizona received $34.4 million in PILT payments in 2015 and $34.5 million in 2014.

Grazing on federal land

See also:Grazing permits on federal land

TheU.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages livestock grazing on its land. Each year the agency issues permits and leases to ranchers who graze livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, for at least part of the year. To track these animals, the BLM established what are called Animal Unit Months (AUMs), or "the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow, five sheep, or five goats for a month." The BLM’s objective is to provide economic opportunities for rural communities while at the same time producing environmental benefits for the land.^[27]

A grazing permit authorizes livestock grazing on federal land outside a grazing district; a grazing lease authorizes the grazing of a specified number and class of livestock in an area within a grazing district.^[27]

In fiscal year 2014, the BLM received $79.9 million to manage rangeland. Of that total, $34.3 million went to livestock grazing management. That same year, the agency collected $12.1 million in grazing fees. Grazing fees must be shared with state and local governments according to federal law.^[27]

The table below shows the number of permits, leases and active AUMs for the 15 states with grazing on federal land. Montana ranchers held the most permits and leases at the end of 2014—3,768 permits. Nevada had the most active AUMs at the end of 2014—2.16 million.

Oil and natural gas activity

See also:Oil and natural gas extraction on federal land

The federal government leases its land to private individuals and companies for energy development, including drilling forcrude oil andnatural gas,solar energy, andgeothermal energy. Around 166 million acres of federal land can be leased for energy development. Oil and natural gas drilling on federal lands in the United States is primarily overseen by theU.S. Bureau of Land Management.^[23][28]

Production on federal land

Arizona produced no crude oil or natural gas in 2014 on federal lands.

Land with production

Private oil and natural gas companies apply for leases from the BLM to produce energy on federal land. The BLM makes leasing decisions based on a land use plan submitted by the company and the potential environmental impact of the production. If a lease is approved, the company must submit information to the BLM about how it will conduct its drilling and production. The BLM also inspects a company’s operations throughout the production.^[29]

Arizona had no producing leases (the number of leases that include a well capable of producing oil or gas) on no producing acres on federal land in 2015.

Water

Clean Water Act

See also:Implementation of the Clean Water Act

TheClean Water Act is a federal law regulating pollutants discharged into allwaters of the United States, including lakes, rivers, streams, andwetlands. The federal government approves water quality and technology standards for major sources of water pollution, such as chemical plants, steel manufacturers, municipal facilities, and others. Each state must establish water quality standards for all bodies of water within its boundaries.^[30]

Under the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from any source into navigable waters without a federal permit. The permit specifies what limitations or conditions apply to a facility before the facility may discharge any pollutants. Federal permits may contain facility-specific requirements and limitations depending on the water source.^[31]

In 2015, Arizona had 198 facilities with Clean Water Act permits allowing facilities to discharge their pollutants.^[32]

Public water systems

Arizona had 1,532 public water systems in 2015.^[33]

Waters of the United States

See also:Waters of the United States

In 2015, the EPA finalized theWaters of the United States rule, which is aimed at clarifying the bodies of water that are under federal jurisdiction. The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would require a federal permit for proposed projects that may involve a discharge of a pollutant into waters covered under the rule.^{[34][35][36][37][38][39][40]}

As of April 2016, Arizona was one of the 31 states that challenged the rule's legality in federal court.On October 9, 2015, theUnited States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit temporarily blocked the rule nationwide to deliberate whether the rule was permissible under federal law.^{[41][42][43][44][45]}

Waste

Superfund sites

See also:Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Superfund is a federal program that addresses contaminated waste sites and their return to practical use. Superfund sites include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines and other industrial areas. The federal government can compel the private entities responsible for a waste site to clean the site or face penalties. If the federal government cleans a waste site, it can compel the responsible company to reimburse the government for cleanup costs. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown.^[46][47][48]

The costs of the Superfund program vary. According to theU.S. Government Accountability Office, the program received an average of $1.2 billion each year between 1981 and 2009.^[49][50][51]

As of January 2016, Arizona had nine Superfund sites.^[52]

Hazardous wastes sites

The federalResource Conservation and Recovery Act covers hazardous wastes, including their generation, treatment, storage and disposal. States may regulate hazardous wastes rather than the federal government. The EPA is responsible for all hazardous waste requirements if no state program exists. Hazardous waste regulations cover waste generators, transporters, treatment centers, storage and disposal facilities.^[53]

Arizona had 4,011 regulated waste facilities in 2015.^[54]

Endangered species

Endangered Species Act

See also:Endangered species in Arizona

TheEndangered Species Act is a federal law that mandates the listing and conservation ofendangered and threatened species. The legislation is meant to prevent the extinction of vulnerable species throughout the United States and to recover a species' population to the point where listing the species as endangered or threatened is no longer necessary. TheU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the law's implementation.^[12][55]

Federally listed animal species in Arizona

There were 65endangered and threatened species believed to or known to occur in Arizona as of January 2016.^[56]

The table below lists the 44 endangered and threatened animal species in the state. When an animal species has the word "Entire" after its name, that species will be found all throughout the state.

Click the [show] button to see the names of all federally protected animal species.

Federally listed plant species in Arizona

The table below lists the 21 endangered and threatened plant species in the state.^[57]

Click the [show] button to see the names of all federally protected plant species.

News

Clean Power Plan

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona Clean Power Plan. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Waters of the United States

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona Waters of the United States. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Clean Air Act

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona Clean Air Act. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Clean Water Act

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona Clean Water Act. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Endangered species

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona Endangered Species Act. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Federal land

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona federal land. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Superfund

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona Superfund. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Climate change

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona climate change. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Drinking water

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsArizona drinking water. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Governance

Ballot measures

Voting on the Environment
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot
Local Local environment Local GMO Local fracking

Below is a list ofballot measures relating to environmental issues in Arizona.

• Arizona Proposition 303, State Funds for Open Space Land Amendment (1998)
• Arizona Proposition 102, Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Hunting-Related Initiatives Amendment (2000)
• Arizona Proposition 106, State Land Conservation Amendment (2006)
• Arizona Proposition 102, State Trust Land Amendment (1992)
• Arizona Proposition 100, State Trust Land Exchange Amendment (1990)
• Arizona Measure Nos. 108-109, State Land Leasing for Oil and Gas Exploration and Exploitation Amendment (September 1950)
• Arizona Proposition 100, State Trust Lands Amendment (2000)
• Arizona Proposition 120, Declare State's Sovereignty Over Public Lands and Natural Resources Amendment (2012)

• Arizona Proposition 303, State Funds for Open Space Land Amendment (1998)
• Arizona Proposition 101, Exchange of State Trust Lands Initiative (2002)
• Arizona Proposition 200, State Lottery Heritage Funds for Parks and Environment Initiative (1990)
• Arizona Proposition 202, State Solid Waste Reduction Plan and Waste Disposal Regulation Initiative (1990)
• Arizona Measure Nos. 304-305, State Conservation Commission Initiative (1920)
• Arizona Proposition 100, State Trust Lands Amendment (2000)
• Arizona Proposition 100, Exchange of State Trust Lands Amendment (2004)
• Arizona Proposition 105, State Trust Lands Amendment (2006)

• Arizona Measure Nos. 306-307, Colorado River Power and Irrigation Initiative (1924)
• Arizona Measure Nos. 106-107, State Reclamation Service Amendment (1914)

Agencies and organizations

• TheArizona Legislature has a joint committee onWater Salinity Issues. TheHouse hasstanding committees onEnergy, Environment and Natural Resources andAgriculture and Water. TheSenatestanding committees onGovernment and Environment andNatural Resources and Rural Affairs.
• TheArizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) was established in 1986 under the state's Environmental Quality Act. The ADEQ's mission is to "lead Arizona and the nation in protecting and enhancing the environment and improving the quality of life for the people of our state. The agency helps Arizonans respect the balance between the natural world and the people who depend on it for sustenance, prosperity and a fulfilling quality of life."^[58]
• TheArizona Fish and Game Department is responsible for wildlife conservation in the state. Their stated mission is to "conserve Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and manage for safe, compatible outdoor recreation opportunities for current and future generations."^[59] The department oversees game and non-game wildlife, sport fishing, shooting sports, watercraft and off-highway vehicles.
• TheArizona State Land Department was first created in 1912 as the State Land Commission. This commission established a trust system for state-owned lands. The department oversees these lands and is responsible generating revenue from the lands for the education and medical beneficiaries.^[60]

Recent legislation

The following is a list of recent environmental bills that have been introduced in or passed by theArizona state legislature. To learn more about these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided byBillTrack50 andLegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Groups

To nominate a group for inclusion on the list below, email us ateditor@ballotpedia.org.

Below is a partial list of environmental advocacy organizations in Arizona.

• Arizona Environmental Strategic Alliance
• Arizona Wilderness Coalition
• Environment Arizona
• Sierra Club, Arizona’s Grand Canyon Chapter

See also

• 

  Environmental policy in the U.S.

• 

  Energy policy in the U.S.

• 

  Endangered species policy in the U.S.

• Endangered species in Arizona
• Energy policy in Arizona
• Federal land policy
• Federal land ownership by state
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. National Park Service

External links

• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
• Arizona Fish and Game Department
• Arizona State Land Department
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Footnotes

v • e Environmental Policy Background Environmental policy in the United States •Clean Air Act •Clean Water Act •Conservation •Endangered Species Act •U.S. Environmental Protection Agency •Enforcement at the EPA •Glossary of environmental terms •Energy and environmental news Energy and environmental news January 2015 •February 2015 •March 2015 •April 2015 •May 2015 •June 2015 •July 2015 •August 2015 •September 2015 •October 2015 •November 2015 •December 2015 Environmental terms Air pollutants •Air Quality Index •BLM grazing permit •Carbon dioxide •Carbon footprint •Clean Air Act •Clean Water Act •Climate change • ConservAmerica •Cross State Air Pollution Rule •Deep ecology •Ecology •Endangered species •Implementation of the Endangered Species Act •Environmental chemistry •Environmental engineering •Environmental health •Environmental restoration •Environmental science •Federal land •Fracking •Greenhouse effect •Greenhouse gas •Ground-level ozone standards •Ground water •Hazardous air pollutant •Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change •Keystone XL •Mercury and air toxics standards •Municipal solid waste •National Ambient Air Quality Standards •National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System •National Priorities List of Superfund sites • National Wildlife Federation •Natural resources •Nonpoint source of water pollution •Oil •Ozone •Pesticide •Petroleum •Point source of water pollution •Public water system •Radioactive waste •Renewable energy resources •Renewable Portfolio Standards •Solar energy •State park •Superfund •Traditional energy resources •U.S. Bureau of Land Management •U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • •U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service •U.S. Forest Service •U.S. Geological Survey •Wastewater treatment •Water quality criteria •Wetland •Wilderness Act •Wilderness Society •Wind energy Endangered species terms Candidate species •Critical habitat •Delisting •Distinct population segment •Endangered species •Listed species •Listing a species •Listing petition •Species recovery •Taking a species Environmental policy by state Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Endangered species policy Costs of listing a species •Delisting a species •Endangered Species Act litigation •Endangered species policy in the United States •Endangered Species Act litigation •History of the Endangered Species Act •Private property and the Endangered Species Act •Science and the Endangered Species Act •Success rate of the Endangered Species Act •Transparency and the Endangered Species Act Endangered species policy by state Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Environmental statistics Payments in lieu of taxes •Land ownership by state •Grazing permits on BLM lands •Federal land ownership by state •BLM oil and gas permits by state •Environmental spending in the 50 states •Greenhouse gas emissions by state •Superfund sites in the United States •National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report Endangered species statistics Endangered species by state •Endangered animals by state •Endangered plants by state •Delisted species •Top 20 federally funded species •Land acquisition funding for endangered species •Federal endangered species grants by state