Just A Week For Pollution Prevention?

Proclamation 
| Arizona Pollution Prevention P2 Week

Revised on: 2016-09-14 14:43

   

WHEREAS, Arizonans take great pride in the natural wonders, culture and heritage of our State and support innovative, modern economy that attracts and rewards environmentally responsible economic growth for our communities and our visitors; and


WHEREAS, science-based, knowledge-driven, pollution prevention programs benefit the health and safety of Arizona’s children, public, workforce, and environment; and 


WHEREAS, pollution prevention benefits and protects the quality of our air, water and land, and fosters water conservation, energy efficiency and other best practices that elevate our standard of living; and


WHEREAS, Arizona has maintained an active Pollution Prevention Program for 25 years and continues to support National Pollution Prevention Week reducing Arizona facilities’ hazardous waste generation and toxic chemical use with operational and process improvements; and 

WHEREAS, reducing waste at the source, reusing materials and recycling, improves operational efficiency, saves businesses and taxpayers money and conserves Arizona’s natural resources for future generations; and

WHEREAS, focusing attention on how pollution prevention enhances efficiency and innovation will better position the State of Arizona to meet the challenges of global economic competitiveness;


NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim September 18 - 24, 2016 as


ARIZONA POLLUTION PREVENTION WEEK and I further urge all state agencies, businesses and citizens of Arizona to continue fostering pollution prevention for the benefit of our economy, community and environment.

 

Pollution Prevention (P2) Planning Program

ADEQ’s Pollution Prevention Planning Program (P2) assists certain businesses in reducing toxic substances at their source, minimizing the generation of hazardous waste and preventing the release of pollutants into the environment. To accomplish this, these businesses must implement a P2 Plan.

What is a P2 Plan?

A P2 Plan is a management document that provides information on facility operations that directly or indirectly produce waste or use toxic substances. The plan involves:

-- Recording the facility’s toxic substance use, emissions and waste from current work practices

-- Outlining potential P2 opportunities and providing specific performance goals, including a schedule for implementing pollution prevention activities

-- Documenting that the facility has performed a rigorous P2 assessment

-- Recognizing past P2 activities that have already been completed at the facility, when available

 

What are the required filing P2 Thresholds?

A P2 Plan will need to be prepared and implemented if any one of the following thresholds are met: 

1. A person who owns or operates a facility that meets the reporting requirements prescribed by Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 49-962 shall prepare and implement a P2 plan that addresses a reduction in the use of toxic substances and the generation of hazardous wastes. [Ref: ARS § 49-963.A]

• During the preceding calendar year, the owner or operator was required to filed an annual toxic chemical release (Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory) form (Form A or Form R) for the facility. [Ref: ARS § 49-962(A)(1)]
• During the preceding calendar year, the facility generated an average of 1 kilogram per month of acutely hazardous waste or an average of 1,000 kilograms per month of hazardous waste in a calendar year, exclusive of an episodic, accidental or remediation related release or occurrence. [Ref: ARS § 49-963(A)(2)]

2. A facility that uses in excess of 10,000 pounds in a calendar year of a toxic substance as defined in ARS § 49-961 shall file a P2 plan by December 31 of the following year. [Ref: ARS § 49-963.D] Please visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) for a list of toxic substances (chemicals and chemical categories).

P2 Objectives

As Arizona grows, so does the generation of hazardous waste and the use of toxic substances. A great way for businesses and citizens to improve our environment is to reduce this growth without shifting the pollutant release between land, water or air. The purpose of the P2 Planning Program is to:

• Reduce the use of toxic substances and hazardous waste generation in our state
• Emphasize the preference for source reduction over recycling, waste treatment or disposal
• Encourage reduction through methods such as substitution with a less toxic chemical and product reformulation
• Implement process modification
• Improve housekeeping
• Promote recycling/reclamation
• Promote conservation and waste minimization

View Thresholds >> http://www.azdeq.gov/programs/waste-programs/pollution-prevention-p2-planning-program

 

Arizona P2 Policy

In Arizona House Bill 2121, the Arizona legislature adopted a state P2 policy as follows:

"In the interest of protecting the public health and safety and the environment, the legislature declares that it is the policy of this state to:

1. Encourage P2 whenever technically and economically practicable, without shifting risks from one part of a process, environmental medium or product to another.

2. Reduce the amount of hazardous substances used and reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated in this state."