The city of St. Johns recently joined the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's (ADEQ) Small Communities Environmental Compliance Assistance Program, a project to help small, often rural municipalities comply with environmental regulations to protect air, land and water quality.

By joining 10 towns currently enrolled in the program, St. Johns commits to implementing compliance checks, and to correct whatever flaws and violations may occur.

Begun in 2007, the compliance assistance program also includes Taylor, Holbrook, Show Low, Springerville, Eagar, Winslow, Snowflake, Huachuca City, and the Sanitary Districts of Naco and Pinetop-Lakeside. 

“We are committed to helping small communities in the state achieve and maintain environmental compliance,” ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera said. “We congratulate St. Johns for being a leader in the effort to reduce its environmental footprint, and hope other small municipalities, and wastewater and water districts join the program.”

St. Johns government staffers moved into new quarters in 2015 after redeveloping property in collaboration with several agencies to clean up and remove an underground leak with grant funds.

In addition to self-regulating, the city will prepare its own Small Community Environmental Protection Plan to create policy and procedures. By complying with ADEQ’s requirements, St. Johns can earn eligibility for future penalty reductions if needed.

“The city of St. Johns is pleased to partner with ADEQ in this endeavor as we focus on maintaining compliance with environmental laws,” St. Johns' Interim Manager Paul Ramsey said. “Our participation in Arizona’s Small Communities Environmental Compliance Assistance Program will help us with continuous improvement and sustaining a high quality of life for our residents.”