Arizona Won´t Issue Water Discharge Permits to Scottsdale Home Builders

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled to strip the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality of the authority to issue water discharge permits ceded them by the EPA in 2002. “The court agreed with environmental groups that the action failed to consider the effect giving that responsibility to the state would have on endangered and protected species.”

One group discouraged by the court’s ruling are Scottsdale home builders, who believe that the decision could paralyze development of Scottsdale homes. There are over 20,000 permits issued each year to state contractors whenever they need to “bulldoze property in any way that it will affect storm water run off.” Some of the permits already issued may also be invalidated by the decision.

The National Association of Home Builders claims that new Scottsdale home projects may just stop if “the state can’t issue the permits necessary for any project of at least one acre. The association’s lawyers plan to appeal the decision.