April 5, 2013 — NOTICE OF 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON REQUEST OF APPROVAL OF FEASIBILITY STUDY WORK PLAN FOR THE WEST VAN BUREN WATER QUALITY ASSURANCE REVOLVING FUND (WQARF) REGISTRY SITE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID), a political subdivision of the State of Arizona, has submitted and seeks approval of a draft final Feasibility Study Work Plan for the West Van Buren WQARF Site pursuant to A.A.C. R18-16-407 and 413. RID will conduct the Feasibility Study pursuant to a Working Agreement with ADEQ. A draft Feasibility Study Work Plan defines the work that will be conducted by RID to identify a remedy and alternative remedies that appear to be capable of achieving the established remedial objectives.

The West Van Buren WQARF Site is located in Phoenix and is bounded approximately by W. McDowell Road to the north, 7th Avenue to the east, W. Buckeye Road to the south and 75th Avenue to the west. In addition, a finger shaped plume exists between 7th Avenue and 27th Avenue between Buckeye Road and Lower Buckeye Road.

A copy of the Feasibility Study Work Plan is available for review at the Harmon Public Library, 1325 S. 5th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003. A copy is also available on the ADEQ web site, http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/sps/wvb.html or at ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007. In Phoenix, please call (602) 771-4380 or email recordscenter@azdeq.gov 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the document. For further information on the West Van Buren WQARF site, please visit: http://azdeq.gov/environ/waste/sps/siteinfo.html.

PARTIES WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS regarding the request of approval may make such comments in writing to ADEQ, Attention: Tina Le Page, Waste Programs Division, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 1110 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Additionally, ADEQ will hold a Community Advisory Board meeting on April 15, 2013, starting at 6:00 pm, at ADEQ’s office located at 1110 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007, at which time written comments may also submitted. Comments must be postmarked no later than 5:00 pm on May 6, 2013.

Questions regarding this notice should be directed to Wendy Flood, (602) 771-4410 or via e-mail at flood.wendy@azdeq.gov.

Dated this 5 of April 2013

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) sent Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) officials a letter providing conditional approval of RID’s Modified Early Response Action Work Plan
Download Letter

On December 6, 2012, Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) representatives gave a technical briefing to the West Van Buren WQARF Site Community Advisory Board (CAB). The briefing provided a summary of Early Response Action (ERA) activities; and review of project accomplishments; an overview of the Modified ERA Work Plan and a brief discussion regarding the Draft Feasibility Study Work Plan. Download the presentation (12.7 MB)

In World Resources Company v ROOSEVELT IRRIGATION DISTRICT, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of World Resources’ claim. See more.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the final health assessment for trichloroethylene (TCE) to the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. IRIS is a human health assessment program that evaluates the latest science on chemicals in our environment.

The final assessment characterizes the chemical as carcinogenic to humans and as a human noncancer health hazard. This assessment will also allow for a better understanding of the risks posed to communities from exposure to TCE in soil, water and air. It will provide federal, state, local and other policy makers with the latest scientific information to make decisions about cleanup and other actions to protect people's health.

Read the entire press release as a PDF.

July19, 2011--Roosevelt Irrigation District seeks qualified contractors under an Alternative Delivery Procurement.
View/Download the Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Questions relating to this procurement announcement may be submitted to Paul Hendricks at the Roosevelt Irrigation District, 103 W. Baseline, Buckeye, Arizona 85326 or via email to phendricks@cox.net.

January 3, 2011--The Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) received 14 respondents to a Request for Interest (RFI) solicitation. RID held an informational meeting followed by a series of one on one meetings with entities that demonstrated additional interest in the project. List of respondents.

RID is in the process of determining the next step in the procurement process. As soon as RID has determined the best procurement method, a formal procurement notice will be advertised in the West Valley View and may also be available on the website and through other bidding services. It is anticipated that the next step of the procurement process will commence in early 2011.

Questions relating to this procurement may be submitted to Paul Hendricks at the Roosevelt Irrigation District, 103 W. Baseline, Buckeye, Arizona 85326 or via email to phendricks@cox.net.

Read more.... (4.54 MB PDF)
Attend a public meeting on September 21, 2010. More info and registration

PHOENIX, ARIZONA July 23, 2010— Officials at the Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) today confirmed the filing in federal district court of a lawsuit against a number of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), identified as possible contributors to groundwater pollution in the West Valley. The named Defendants were identified as potential sources of contamination based on state and federal records and reports that document the release of toxic chemicals at the facilities owned or operated by the named Defendants.

Roosevelt Irrigation District vs Salt River Project is a civil action brought against the PRPs, under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980; more commonly referenced as Superfund. The suit seeks recovery of past and future costs incurred by RID in responding to the Defendants’ release or threatened release of toxic substances that have impacted, or threaten to impact, wells owned and operated by RID. The suit also includes other claims under state law for environmental nuisance and trespass.

RID is represented in this action by the Phoenix law firm, Gallagher & Kennedy. According to David Kimball of Gallagher & Kennedy, “RID had no alternative but to file the lawsuit because many of these parties have resisted multiple invitations to voluntarily come forward and do the right thing.”

The impacted and threatened RID wells are located in what the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) refers to as the West Van Buren Area (WVBA) Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF) Site. WQARF is the State’s version of Superfund. The WVBA WQARF Site has been under study by ADEQ since 1987. According to ADEQ, groundwater contamination from the Motorola 52nd Street Federal Superfund Site and the West Central Phoenix (WCP) WQARF Site also is contributing to the groundwater contamination in the WVBA WQARF Site, generating one of the largest plumes of contaminated groundwater in the United States. The WVBA Site is bordered by McDowell Road on the North, Buckeye and Lower Buckeye Roads on the South, 7th Avenue on the East and beyond 79th Avenue on the West.

RID was formed in 1927 to serve customers in the West Metropolitan Phoenix area. RID uses 50 miles of main canals and 185 miles of lateral canals to deliver water for beneficial use. “We have been waiting a long time to see this situation set right,” explained RID Superintendent Stan Ashby. “Water is a precious natural resource. We all need to take our stewardship duties very seriously.”

As part of its efforts to promote responsible groundwater stewardship, RID is leading a cooperative effort to address the groundwater contamination called the West Valley Groundwater Cleanup Coalition.