Board approves environmental access agreement for Van Buren/Motorola Superfund monitoring

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an environmental access agreement Jan. 28 to allow the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to install monitoring wells and take soil‑vapor samples at a site tied to the Van Buren and 52nd Street/Motorola Superfund and state water‑quality revolving fund matter.

Alex Smith, Director of Real Estate, said the agreement responds to ADEQ’s request and covers installation of monitoring wells, soil vapor wells and soil vapor samples to monitor for trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). Smith told the board the chemical releases occurred before the county acquired the property and that the county’s original involvement stemmed from a 2001 consent decree with the railroad and the state; the county did not admit liability under that consent decree.

Members of the public asked questions about timing of releases, whether citizens were notified, and the scope of the county’s access and legal obligations. Smith said the agreement covers state access for remediation activities and is part of the county participating in remediation of the site.

The board treated the item as a unanimous‑vote matter and approved the agreement by roll call. Chair Kate Brophy McGee thanked staff; no board members recorded dissent.