In our Fiscal Year 2014 Strategic Plan we committed to transforming our operations to become more effective at achieving our mission than we ever were before. Our overarching goals and key strategies have not changed. ADEQ developed five strategies to address challenges we face. These strategies -- deploy lean, increase outreach, leverage e-technology, strengthen core programs and unleash human potential.

The purpose of this handbook is to promote appropriate, consistent, and timely evaluations of compliance and initiation of enforcement by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. This handbook describes a uniform system for pursuing and escalating enforcement. It serves as a road map for new ADEQ compliance and enforcement staff, and a desk reference for those with more experience. It also provides guidance to those local authorities that have undertaken compliance and enforcement responsibilities through a delegation agreement with ADEQ. All of the concepts within ADEQ’s Compliance and Enforcement Policy, along with a number of other ADEQ compliance and enforcement related policies, have been incorporated into this handbook either explicitly or through the development of boilerplate.

This handbook describes the fleet station permitting process, the types of permits and inspector licenses that are issued, required inspection equipment and equipment maintenance, inspection procedures for specific classes of vehicles, and record keeping procedures. The handbook was developed from laws and regulations found in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49, Chapter 3, Article 5, and Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 2, Article 10.

This handbook describes the fleet emissions inspection station requirements for all entities other than licensed motor vehicle dealers. Contained within are: Summarizations of the fleet emissions inspection station permitting and inspector licensing processes; lists of required inspection equipment and equipment maintenance/calibration standards; inspection procedures for specific classes of vehicles; record keeping procedures. The handbook was developed from laws and regulations found in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49, Chapter 3, Article 5, and Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 2, Article 10.

This handbook describes the requirements for a licensed motor vehicle dealer to operate a fleet emissions inspection station. Contained within are: Summarizations of the fleet emissions inspection station permitting and inspector licensing processes; lists of required inspection equipment and equipment maintenance/calibration standards; inspection procedures for specific classes of vehicles; record keeping procedures. The inspection procedures outlined in this handbook apply to vehicles specifically held for retail sale. Vehicles other than those held for retail sale (parts truck, courtesy van, loaner vehicle) must be inspected at an official state emissions inspection station. Because dealers typically do not own the required equipment and apply for a permit to inspect diesel powered vehicles, this handbook does not address their inspection. The handbook was developed from laws and regulations found in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49, Chapter 3, Article 5, and Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 2, Article 10.

In March 2000, Governor Jane Hull convened the Brown Cloud Summit to examine methods to improve visibility in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. As part of this Summit, a Visibility Standards Subcommittee was established to recommend methods for measuring visible air quality and tracking improvements in visible air quality over time. Based on its research, the Visibility Standards Subcommittee recommended that a visibility index be established through a public survey process representative of a cross-section of residents. Acting on the recommendation, ADEQ established the Visibility Index Oversight Committee. The Committee’s goal was to coordinate the involvement of Phoenix-area residents in the development of a visibility index.

Raising Arizona was the challenge of the 20th century. Sustaining Arizona is now the challenge of the 21st. A crucial part of that task is not just understanding today’s knowledge economy, but mastering it.
If the state makes this fundamental transition, the brief history of Arizona’s future will read simply: They succeeded in the second stage. Human capital took its rightful place as a chief component of competitiveness. As a result, the story will go, Arizona moved into the top ranks of economic leadership after years in the second tier. Equity and prosperity resulted too. Most important, the state was ready for the next stage of competition. This happy ending for Arizona, of course, has been envisioned repeatedly over time. And in fact, a variety of human capital policies and programs to achieve it are in place. However, many would say that human capital is an area of unfinished business for Arizona. The Arizona Minority Education Policy Analysis Center (AMEPAC) developed "To Learn and Earn" to highlight the issues and asked Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University to support the effort with research and analysis. In turn, AMEPAC will present the issues to Arizona stakeholders for their feedback. This process will kick off a multi-partner series of policy action projects. The first results will be presented in November 2009 at the next human capital conference presented by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education.

As cities seek ways to address emerging urban problems, a growing ractice is to combine the efforts of citizens, local government, and community organizations to revitalize and build strong neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Fight Back Program, administered through the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department (NSD), is viewed as one such practice. The Fight Back program offers designated neighborhoods “specialized support over a limited period of time to assist with resident driven neighborhood improvement efforts. These efforts generally focus on revitalization, sustainability, crime and blight reduction, resident participation, neighborhood leadership, development and community building.” At the request of NSD, an external evaluation of the Fight Back program was conducted by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University. The evaluation involved more than 100 interviews with residents and city staff and an extensive review and analysis of program documentation.