By Ian James | Arizona Republic
Arizona is looking at taking over a federal program intended to protect rivers, streams and wetlands from construction projects, road-building and mining, a change conservation groups say will likely translate into a significant weakening of environmental protections.
In Arizona and most other states, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues dredge-and-fill permits under the Clean Water Act. But a bill passed by the Arizona Legislature this year would allow the state Department of Environmental Quality to take over those responsibilities.
The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Doug Ducey in April, says the agency may establish a state-run program for handling the permits, which developers and mining companies need to build in desert washes or near streams and wetlands.
