2007 Annual Conference - The 20th Anniversary of the Environmental Quality Act and ADEQ: Assessing, Protecting and Remediating the State's Water Quality. What Future Challenges?

The one-day conference was held on June 5, 2007 and featured participants with varied expertise and backgrounds to discuss the past, present and future of the EQA and ADEQ.

Day 1 Conference Program

7:30–8:10       
Registration and light breakfast

8:10-8:15        
Welcome: Sharon Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center , The University of Arizona

8:15-8:30        
Opening Remarks: "Environmental Protection in Arizona: How Far Have We Come?” 
Grant Woods, Attorney, Grant Woods PC, former Arizona Attorney General

8:30-9:00        
Keynote: "Political Dynamics and the Water Quality Act" Jack Pfister, 
former General Manager, Salt River Project and Professor, Arizona State University, retired

9:00-10:00      
History of the Environmental Quality Act: Past challenges and the beginning of ADEQ

Nancy Wrona (moderator), Director, Air Quality Division, ADEQ                                                   
Jim Derouin, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson, LLP
Roger Ferland, Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLP
Priscilla Robinson, Southwest Environmental Service, retired

10:00-10:15    
Break

10:15-10:30    
Former ADEQ Director Ed Fox (1991-1994)

10:30-11:30    
WQARF: Past, present and future

Tamara Huddleston (moderator), Section Chief Counsel, Environmental Enforcement Section Arizona Office of the Attorney General
Karen Gaylord, Attorney, Salmon, Lewis & Weldon, PLC
Rick Lavis, Executive Vice President, Arizona Cotton Growers Association
Jim Vieregg, Director of Government Relations, Abrams Airborne Mfg., Inc.

11:30-11:45    
Former ADEQ Director Russell Rhoades(1995-1998)

12:00-1:15     
Lunch

Recognition of Legislative Leaders: 

The Honorable Senator Jake Flake, Arizona Senate District 5 
The Honorable Representative Ray Barnes, Arizona House District 7
Introduction of the Luncheon Keynote: 
Samuel Coppersmith, Partner, Coppersmith Gordon Schermer Owens & Nelson, PLC 
Luncheon Keynote: “The State of ADEQ,”
Stephen Owens, Director, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

1:30-2:30     
Emerged and Emerging Contaminants: The Past and Future in Water Quality Science                    

Chuck Graf (moderator), Associate Director, ADEQ Coordinator, Arizona Water Institute 
Phil Lagas, Vice President, Brown & Caldwell 
Paul Westerhoff, Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Arizona State University 
David Quanrud, Research Scientist, Office of Arid Lands Studies, The University of Arizona

 2:30-3:45    
Emerging Policy Challenges

Joan Card (moderator), Director, Water Quality Division, ADEQ 
Delia Carlyle, Chairman, Ak Chin Indian Community 
Deb Hill, Supervisor, Coconino County Board of Supervisors (D-IV) 
Trevor Hill, President and CEO, Global Water 
David Modeer, Director, Tucson Water 
Sandy Bahr, Conservation Outreach Director, Sierra Club

3:15-4:00    
Break

 4:00-5:15    
The Future of ADEQ: Where do we go from here?

(Moderated discussion) 
Patrick Cunningham (moderator), Deputy Director, ADEQ 
The Honorable Senator Carolyn Allen, Arizona Senate, District 8 
The Honorable Senator Tom O’Halleran, Arizona Senate, District 1 
Pat Mariella, Director, American Indian Policy & Leadership Development Center, Arizona State University
Alexis Strauss, Director, Water Division, EPA Region 9 
Karen Peters, Intergovernmental Programs Coordinator, City of Phoenix

5:30    
Reception