ADEQ: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality AZ.gov, Arizona's Official Web Site
Our mission is to protect and enhance public health and the environment
Waste Programs Division: Cleanups: Voluntary Remediation Program

Through ADEQ's Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP), property owners, prospective purchasers and other interested parties investigate or clean up a contaminated site in cooperation with ADEQ. VRP results in a streamlined process for program participants who work with a single point of contact at ADEQ to address applicable cross-program remediation efforts. ADEQ reviews these voluntary remedial actions and provides a closure document for successful site remediation that is accepted by all relevant ADEQ programs.

Program Benefits

  • Faster cleanup of environmental contamination;
  • Streamlined processing and interaction with ADEQ;
  • Expedited review and approval of cleanup activities;
  • No further action determinations for successfully remediated properties.

Eligibility (VRP Statutes)

Anyone can participate in VRP except those conducting:

  • Remedial activities subject to corrective action at or closure of a facility, as defined in A.R.S. § 49-921(2), which has qualified for hazardous waste interim status or to which a hazardous waste permit has been issued pursuant to A.R.S. § 49-922;
  • Remedial activities pursuant to a written agreement between the applicant and the director;
  • Remedial activities subject to a judicial judgement or decree;
  • Remedial activities required by an administrative order issued by the director prior to the submission of a VRP application;
  • Remedial activities pursuant to a judicial action filed and served by the state prior to the submission of a VRP application;
  • Remedial activities at a site listed on, or proposed to be listed on, the WQARF Registry [see A.R.S. § 49-287.01(D)];
  • Corrective actions being taken pertaining to a regulated underground storage tank (UST) pursuant to A.R.S. § 49-1005, unless a waiver of state assurance fund reimbursement is completed.

Fees (Fee Rule)

Effective February 9, 2001, the VRP interim fee rules:

  • Establish a $2,000 non-refundable application fee;
  • Establish an hourly VRP oversight rate of $110 per hour;
  • Provide for an initial deposit of $4,000, to be submitted with the participant's work plan or request for an NFA;
  • Provide for additional deposits of $4,000, if an account drops below $1,000;
  • Provide small businesses with the opportunity to pay the application fee in installments under an agreement with the department;
  • Provide for quarterly billing statements.

Read the Interim Fee Rule

To Apply

Submit a completed VRP Application with fees to:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Voluntary Remediation Program
1110 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

ADEQ will promptly review the application and approve, deny, or request additional information to determine the applicant's eligibility to participate in the program

An application shall be deemed complete unless the department, within 60 days of receipt, notifies the applicant that the application is incomplete or has been denied

Sites With Ongoing Remediation:

See Also: