Detox Center Construction Can Continue, Says ADEQ

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By Tammy Gray-Searles
    Construction of the Holbrook detoxification center can move forward as long as guidelines set forth by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) are carefully followed.
    That was the news provided by Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA) Business Manager Jim Steinshouer, who met with ADEQ and City of Holbrook officials at the construction site Tuesday morning. The meeting was called to resolve issues raised by an ADEQ inspection that found that items were improperly buried on the site where the detoxification center is being built.
    The land where the center is under construction is part of the former Northland Pioneer College (NPC) campus on East Hermosa Drive. The city purchased the campus from NPC, then donated a portion of it to NARBHA for construction of the detoxification center. The spot where the facility is being built is the same site where a failed NPC building was buried. According to Holbrook Councilman Wade Carlisle, the problem ADEQ has found with the site is that items such as carpeting and PVC pipe were buried along with the building. If only the concrete portion of the building had been knocked underground, with the interior properly removed, there would be no environmental issues.
    According to Steinshouer, ADEQ has given NARBHA the go-ahead to proceed with construction, with the restriction that any waste that has already been uncovered from the site is not reburied. He noted that construction crews will be bringing in fresh soil to replace that filled with remnants of the old building so that construction can continue.
    “I’m pretty happy with the way things went,” Steinshouer said, noting that NARBHA officials are anxious to finish the Holbrook facility quickly.
    Before construction can be finished, however, a utility easement is needed from the city. At a previous meeting, with the ADEQ inspection report having just been received, the council tabled the request for the easement, noting that they would like a “hold harmless” letter from NARBHA before approving the easement. Steinshouer explained that construction of the interior cannot be completed until the easement is approved and electric service is run to the building. He noted that within three to five days of approval of the easement, the building should have electric service, and then be close to completion.
    Steinshouer noted that the facility will not be open by the May 31 deadline required by the grant being used to fund construction. Although NARBHA has been working closely with state officials, some sanctions could be put into effect for failing to meet the deadline, he explained.
    “There could be some sanctions,” he said. “We’ve all been working together to get it up and running as fast as possible, and that’s all we can do.”
    The facility is not yet licensed, and cannot open until it is licensed, but according to Steinshouer, it is on the fast track so that as soon as construction is complete, the building can be inspected for licensing purposes.
    “We’re just waiting for the electric lines, then everything else should fall into place,” he remarked.
    ADEQ officials are expected to complete their report on the site within the next 30 days, but the waste dug up at the site will need to be properly disposed of before the issue is put to rest.