Welch Joins AZDEQ’s Working Group

Tucson, Ariz. (August 28, 2018)—Archaeology Southwest is pleased to announce that John R. Welch, Site and Landscape Program Director, has been named by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (AZDEQ) to its technical working group for cultural and historic resources. AZDEQ is beginning its application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assume control from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of the permitting functions of the Section 404 of the U.S. Clean Water Act.

“Even in Arizona, where there’s precious little surface water, Section 404 permits are required for almost every significant land alteration and resource extraction effort, including projects on private land. It is essential that permit review includes consideration of the full range of direct and indirect effects on the full range of cultural resources,” Welch said.

Recent Arizona Republic reporting on this process here.

More on the AZDEQ here.

More on the U.S. Clean Water Act here.