The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White Mountain Apache Tribe have reached an agreement to address non-compliance with the Clean Water Act concerning wastewater treatment on tribal land in Arizona. The Tribe operates five wastewater treatment plants, including those at Sunrise Park Resort, Hon-Dah Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, and Whiteriver Sewage Lagoons.
Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, stated, "The EPA and the White Mountain Apache Tribe are united in this action to ensure that wastewater treatment plants do not degrade our precious water resources." She emphasized that these agreements will protect communities on the Fort Apache Reservation and the Colorado River.
This agreement follows the EPA's finding of non-compliance with federal regulations by the Tribe, posing potential risks to public health and the environment. The wastewater discharge from these facilities has exceeded limits for total residual chlorine, E. coli, phosphorous, turbidity, and ammonia.
To address these issues, the White Mountain Apache Tribe has committed $8.2 million to upgrade infrastructure at Sunrise Park Resort. Additionally, EPA has provided $1 million for upgrades at Hon-Dah Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, while the Tribe will contribute $158,000. The EPA is also assisting with compliance to improve operations at both Hon-Dah and Whiteriver facilities.
The upgraded infrastructure aims to reduce pollutants in water and lessen monitoring requirements for the Tribe. Compliance with regulations at Sunrise Park Resort is expected by January 1, 2027. For Hon-Dah Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, a plan will be implemented by March 1, 2028. An Effluent Limit Achievement Plan for Whiteriver Sewage Lagoons is due by June 1, 2028.
The EPA has issued five National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to govern pollutant discharge from publicly owned treatment plants operated by the Tribe.
For more information on this initiative and other environmental protection efforts in the Pacific Southwest Region, visit EPA's website.
