ADEQ CAUGHT IN WEB OF DECEPTION

Perspective for your consideration … What does it look like when it’s fixed…?

ADEQ CAUGHT IN CLIMATE DISPUTE AT STATE CAPITOL … noted the Arizona Republic in its 14 Nov 08 issue …

I find I am inclined to suggest the current “dispute” respecting ADEQ is a continuation of one initiated at its inception as a separate agency as established by the Arizona Legislature in 1986 reputedly in response to growing concerns about groundwater quality. Its mission statement according to the ADEQ website is … to administer a variety of programs to improve the health and welfare of our citizens and ensure the quality of Arizona's air, land and water resources meet healthful, regulatory standards. In 1986, Bruce Babbitt was in his last year as Governor of Arizona and ADEQ in part, I believe was to establish his legacy respecting his implementation of “active management areas” (AMA) over certain aspects of water. Babbitt was to be succeeded by Evan Mechan during whose governorship was a most tumultuous time. Mechan’s action as Governor polarized our State over the federal MLK Day. His choice of words and descriptions such as “pickaninny” were daily headline fodder keeping all topics of public value off everyone’s radar.

ADEQ from the outset never enjoyed the full support of the state legislature as a number of members at the time saw this creation as nothing more than to placate the “pro-growth” constituents in our State. It has been since its creation a creature and the subject of “revolving” door philosophies, standards, rules and policies. Any Director who honestly chooses to be “pro” environment finds his/her tenure to be short. Review the philosophies, standards, rules and policies of ADEQ since its inception and one sees the hand of the lobbyists, attorneys of the public utilities, large water users (i.e. cities), corporate agriculture and the mines and last and not least – developers/subdividers. ADEQ philosophies, standards, rules and policies have had one aim and goal that is to promote unrestricted growth in all areas of our state – water – concerns be damned.

Part of me wants to stand and cheer and hope ADEQ meets its demise. Another more thoughtful part of me suggests such a stand could easily be an indelible blow to Arizona’s environmental concerns. Our individual and collective action, including moi, has since its inception left ADEQ twisting in the wind, subject to whomever and whatever was in the moment the loudest voice and produced the biggest lobbying effort.

Historically in Arizona, corporate agriculture, corporate mining, corporate developers/subdividers has had the ear of both the State Legislature as well as whoever was at the moment the Director of ADEQ. To understand ADEQ action, policy and enforcement one need look no further than to the maxim … $ money is the mother’s milk of politic$ … and if nothing else in Arizona our environment has always been the whim of political leaders from all political parties, persuasions and passions. Like all governmental agencies in Arizona – ADEQ – has felt that it was overworked, underfunded and understaffed. And perhaps given the vast scope of environmental concerns “we” chose to charge it with, they could be correct in their assessment.

In Arizona, with our overlay “western-cowboy” philosophy “we” hate taxes as much as we hate being told what “we” can and can not do on our own property. In this environment “we” create ADEQ requesting it to promulgate rules, regulations and enforcement policies for the benefit of our environment. Is this really doable …?

Water in particular in Arizona was one of those things which historically “we” are willing to fall on the sword for given its overwhelming significance in the desert in which we chose to live. The significance of water has since Arizona became a state in 1912 morphed from its once vaunted position of significance to one where today thanks to our quality education it’s considered merely a commodity and were one to choose to believe our State “leaders” – quite abundant…?

Given our collective understanding of water in Arizona which is conflicted at best, it is any wonder why then ADEQ rules, regulations and enforcement lack focus and direction…?

Allow me to put these issues on the table for our consideration…?

 Arizona is a desert with very limit rainfall
 Arizona has incredible diverse climates and elevations
 Arizona appears to have harnessed all sources of water in our state for the storage of water as well as the production of electric power
 The economic engine driving our state’s economy is homebuilding which entails the destruction our natural environment for roads, homes, schools, shopping centers, airports, railroads, sport arenas and parking lots.
 The once vaunted five “C” comprising the state’s motto – climate – cotton – citrus – cattle – copper – has morphed into – unrestricted growth.
 We are a state without a unified water policy respecting the “drought” conditions under which we have operated for many years.
 While many regions and communities in Arizona currently operate under restricted water use policies, “metro” Phoenix heeds no such policy or action.

Is it really doable that under this philosophy that ADEQ can honestly promulgate rules, regulations and enforcement actions which honestly protect our state’s environment…?

Should ADEQ meet its demise today…? Eliminating ADEQ does not solve any of the host of environmental issues facing our state. From my perspective it is possible, but only with a willingness on the part of Arizona citizens to choose to enact higher taxes those functions associated with individual homes, i.e. design, installation, operation and maintenance, re-sale inspections and certifications, of all residential on-site wastewater treatment and effluent disposal systems (commonly referred to as septic systems) can become the sole domain and providence of the individual 15 Arizona counties. As it is, those issues and topics in this individual homeowner realm are treated as the proverbial – bastard – child and sorely neglected by ADEQ. And quite frankly this should be expected as this segment of those affected by ADEQ actions are and always have been without representation. And without “mash-mouth-in-your-face” representation this segment does not get ADEQ attention and therefore its needs understandably go unheeded. Unlike other constituent groups affected by ADEQ this homeowner segment has been traditionally without any formal leadership and therefore lacks “standing” in ADEQ eyes. Given its diversity it is an unruly group by tradition not akin to being lead by anyone in any way, shape or form. Given its diverse structure it is fodder for ADEQ to easily divide and conquer which ADEQ has successfully done for years. And will continue to do.

With the ADEQ current leadership and direction it is not logical to assume it will suddenly take a turn and honestly take “environment’s” side on the host of issues which we face…? ADEQ, like all agencies is a political animal and will respond to those who support it and sustain its funding and to them ADEQ will be true.

In my opinion as currently constituted ADEQ needs our honest assessment, evaluation and appraisal to determine if its form requires restructuring or possibly elimination…? To enable you and me to make these assessments, evaluations and appraisals requires that government provide to us the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth which is all part of full open disclosure and dialog.

From my perspective it’s a task worthy of our active participation.


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… People should never be afraid of their government, government should always be afraid of the people …

"Fascism ought more properly be called corporatism because it is the perfect merger of power between the corporation and the state." … Benito Mussolini

And let me be even a bit bolder, I am most willing to present and discuss any water issue before any audience in Arizona where open full disclosure and two way dialog is permitted.

Website address for Paul F. Miller’s blog …. http://energeticsynergy.blogspot.com