Arizona Agency Awards Grants for Vehicle Removal Program

Steve Owens, director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has announced the awarding of two grants that will address the problem of abandoned vehicles in Graham County. The two grants total $176,150.

The Gila Watershed Partnership is receiving a $99,000 grant from ADEQ's recycling program to help deal with and clean up 120 tons of abandoned automobiles in Graham County. The Partnership also is receiving a $77,150 water quality improvement grant from ADEQ to remove 400 abandoned vehicles from washes along the Gila River in the county. The Partnership will use the funds to identify abandoned vehicles, obtain titles, tow the vehicles to a salvage yard, remove hazardous fluids and parts containing hazardous material and hire a salvage company to crush and recycle the metal. The Partnership will work with Graham County and the city of Safford on the projects.

While the Partnership has received grants in the past from the ADEQ, this is the first time funding has come from the ADEQ’s recycling program.