2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 49 - The Environment › § 49-203 - Powers and duties of the director and department

49-203.
Powers and duties of the director and department
A. The director shall:
1. Adopt,  by rule,  water quality standards in the form and subject to the considerations prescribed by article 2 of this chapter.
2. Adopt,  by rule,  a permit program for WOTUS that is consistent with but not more stringent than the requirements of the clean water act for the point source discharge of any pollutant or combination of pollutants into WOTUS. The program and the rules shall be sufficient to enable this state to administer the permit program identified in section 402(b) of the clean water act,  including the sewage sludge requirements of section 405 of the clean water act and as prescribed by article 3.1 of this chapter.
3. Apply the program and rules authorized under paragraph 2 of this subsection to point source discharges to non-WOTUS protected surface waters,  consistent with section 49-255.04,  which establishes the program components and rules that do not apply to non-WOTUS protected surface waters. The following are exempt from the non-WOTUS protected surface waters point source discharge program:
(a) Discharges to a non-WOTUS protected surface water incidental to a recharge project.
(b) Established or ongoing farming,  ranching and silviculture activities such as plowing,  seeding,  cultivating,  minor drainage or harvesting for the production of food,  fiber or forest products or upland soil and water conservation practices.
(c) Maintenance but not construction of drainage ditches.
(d) Construction and maintenance of irrigation ditches.
(e) Maintenance of structures such as dams,  dikes and levees.
4. Adopt,  by rule,  a program to control nonpoint source discharges of any pollutant or combination of pollutants into WOTUS.
5. Adopt,  by rule,  an aquifer protection permit program to control discharges of any pollutant or combination of pollutants that are reaching or may with a reasonable probability reach an aquifer. The permit program shall be as prescribed by article 3 of this chapter.
6. Adopt,  by rule,  the permit program for underground injection control described in the safe drinking water act.
7. Adopt,  by rule,  technical standards for conveyances of reclaimed water and a permit program for the direct reuse of reclaimed water.
8. Adopt,  by rule or as permit conditions,  discharge limitations,  best management practice standards,  new source performance standards,  toxic and pretreatment standards and other standards and conditions as reasonable and necessary to carry out the permit programs and regulatory duties described in paragraphs 2 through 6 of this subsection.
9. Assess and collect fees to revoke,  issue,  deny,  modify or suspend permits issued pursuant to this chapter and to process permit applications. The director may also assess and collect costs reasonably necessary if the director must conduct sampling or monitoring relating to a facility because the owner or operator of the facility has refused or failed to do so on order by the director. The director shall set fees that are reasonably related to the department's costs of providing the service for which the fee is charged. Monies collected from aquifer protection permit fees and from Arizona pollutant discharge elimination system permit fees shall be deposited,  pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147,  in the water quality fee fund established by section 49-210. Monies from other permit fees shall be deposited,  pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147,  in the water quality fee fund unless otherwise provided by law. Monies paid by an applicant for review by consultants for the department pursuant to section 49-241.02,  subsection B shall be deposited,  pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147,  in the water quality fee fund established by section 49-210. State agencies are exempt from all fees imposed pursuant to this chapter except for those fees associated with the dredge and fill permit program established pursuant to article 3.2 of this chapter. For services provided under the dredge and fill permit program,  a state agency shall pay either:
(a) The fees established by the department under the dredge and fill permit program.
(b) The reasonable cost of services provided by the department pursuant to an interagency service agreement.
10. Adopt,  modify,  repeal and enforce other rules that are reasonably necessary to carry out the director's functions under this chapter.
11. Require monitoring at an appropriate point of compliance for any organic or inorganic pollutant listed under section 49-243,  subsection I if the director has reason to suspect the presence of the pollutant in a discharge.
12. Adopt rules establishing what constitutes a significant increase or adverse alteration in the characteristics or volume of pollutants discharged for purposes of determining what constitutes a major modification to an existing facility under the definition of new facility pursuant to section 49-201. Before the adoption of these rules,  the director shall determine whether a change at a particular facility results in a significant increase or adverse alteration in the characteristics or volume of pollutants discharged on a case-by-case basis,  taking into account site conditions and operational factors.
13. Consider evidence gathered by the Arizona navigable stream adjudication commission established by section 37-1121 when deciding whether a permit is required to discharge pursuant to article 3.1 of this chapter.
B. The director may:
1. On presentation of credentials,  enter into,  on or through any public or private property from which a discharge has occurred,  is occurring or may occur or on which any disposal,  land application of sludge or treatment regulated by this chapter has occurred,  is occurring or may be occurring and any public or private property where records relating to a discharge or records that are otherwise required to be maintained as prescribed by this chapter are kept,  as reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter. The director or a department employee may take samples,  inspect and copy records required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter,  inspect equipment,  activities,  facilities and monitoring equipment or methods of monitoring,  take photographs and take other action reasonably necessary to determine the application of,  or compliance with,  this chapter. The owner or managing agent of the property shall be afforded the opportunity to accompany the director or department employee during inspections and investigations,  but prior notice of entry to the owner or managing agent is not required if reasonable grounds exist to believe that notice would frustrate the enforcement of this chapter. If the director or department employee obtains any samples before leaving the premises,  the director or department employee shall give the owner or managing agent a receipt describing the samples obtained and a portion of each sample equal in volume or weight to the portion retained. If an analysis is made of samples,  or monitoring and testing are performed,  a copy of the results shall be furnished promptly to the owner or managing agent.
2. Require any person who has discharged,  is discharging or may discharge into the waters of the state under article 3,  3.1,  3.2 or 3.3 of this chapter and any person who is subject to pretreatment standards and requirements or sewage sludge use or disposal requirements under article 3.1 of this chapter to collect samples,  to establish and maintain records,  including photographs,  and to install,  use and maintain sampling and monitoring equipment to determine the absence or presence and nature of the discharge or indirect discharge or sewage sludge use or disposal.
3. Administer state or federal grants,  including grants to political subdivisions of this state,  for the construction and installation of publicly and privately owned pollutant treatment works and pollutant control devices and establish grant application priorities.
4. Develop,  implement and administer a water quality planning process,  including a ranking system for applicant eligibility,  wherein appropriated state monies and available federal monies are awarded to political subdivisions of this state to support or assist regional water quality planning programs and activities.
5. Enter into contracts and agreements with the federal government to implement federal environmental statutes and programs.
6. Enter into intergovernmental agreements pursuant to title 11,  chapter 7,  article 3 if the agreement is necessary to more effectively administer the powers and duties described in this chapter.
7. Participate in,  conduct and contract for studies,  investigations,  research and demonstrations relating to the causes,  minimization,  prevention,  correction,  abatement,  mitigation,  elimination,  control and remedy of discharges and collect and disseminate information relating to discharges.
8. File bonds or other security as required by a court in any enforcement actions under article 4 of this chapter.
9. Adopt by rule a permit program for the discharge of dredged or fill material into WOTUS for purposes of implementing the permit program established by 33 United States Code section 1344.
C. Subject to section 38-503 and other applicable statutes and rules,  the department may contract with a private consultant to assist the department in reviewing aquifer protection permit applications and on-site wastewater treatment facilities to determine whether a facility meets the criteria and requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted by the director. Except as provided in section 49-241.02,  subsection B,  the department shall not use a private consultant if the fee charged for that service would be greater than the fee the department would charge to provide that service. The department shall pay the consultant for the services rendered by the consultant from fees paid by the applicant or facility to the department pursuant to subsection A,  paragraph 9 of this section.
D. The director shall integrate all of the programs authorized in this section and other programs affording water quality protection that are administered by the department for purposes of administration and enforcement and shall avoid duplication and dual permitting to the maximum extent practicable.