Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
NPDES Permits & Stormwater
Arizona's Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
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On December 5, 2002, EPA Region 9 approved the State of Arizona’s Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Program pursuant to Section 402 of the Clean Water Act. As of December 5, 2002, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will administer that program and EPA will cease new permitting actions under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.
All NPDES permit files under the jurisdiction of ADEQ will be transferred to the State within 30 days. The AZPDES program includes the regulation of waste water and storm water point source discharges and the industrial pretreatment program. EPA retains authority for discharges in Indian Country.
- Federal Register Notice of Approved Program (12/30/02)
Decision and Response Documents
EPA's Federal Register Notice of Public Comment Period (8/1/02)
Response to Comments (PDF, 34 pages, 529 KB About PDF)
This document includes a summary of public comments with EPA’s responses. EPA considered all public comments it received in making its decision to approve the AZPDES program.
Related Links
ADEQ's Federal Water Permits Program Web Page 
Includes Arizona's AZPDES application and other documents in the official record.
Biological Opinion Document, available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Arizona Ecological Services
EPA completed formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and considered the biological opinion of the Service, prior to making its determination to approve the AZPDES program.