Today’s guest brings decades of expertise in air quality, water protection, solid waste, and climate planning. We are glad to be joined by Scott DiBiase, Director of the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. Director DiBiase’s professional journey spans several states, agencies, and roles, all of which shaped the deep technical and leadership experience he now brings to Pima County. After earning his degree in atmospheric sciences from the University of Arizona in 1991, he began his career in Connecticut in 1993, working in the state’s air monitoring program. He then returned to Arizona to work for the Maricopa Association of Governments, focusing on air quality modeling and state implementation planning. That technical foundation led him to Pinal County in 2004, where he grew from planning manager to deputy director, eventually serving as interim director of their air quality program before joining Pima County DEQ in 2023.

Today, Director DiBiase leads a department of about 40 professionals across a broad range of programs including air, water, waste, climate planning, and community outreach. DEQ’s responsibilities stretch from air monitoring, permitting, and enforcement, to water system inspections, septic reviews, pool and spa permitting, hazardous waste oversight, and management of the county’s landfill and transfer stations. The department also plays a major role in stormwater inspections, landfill closure maintenance, and regional climate planning efforts. These programs, though diverse, share a common goal: safeguarding the air residents breathe, the water residents drink, and the environmental quality of Pima County as a whole.

Director DiBiase explains how DEQ’s air program is the largest and most technical component of the department, requiring daily fieldwork, precise monitoring, rulemaking, and enforcement. He outlines the county’s stormwater inspections, water sampling responsibilities, and the complexities of maintaining closed landfills for three decades. He also discusses recycling services at county transfer stations, the challenges of expanding those services in unincorporated areas, and the realities of tracking septic system use across the region. The Director also shares updates on the county’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, a four‑year EPA planning effort that has produced both a Priority Climate Action Plan and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan in collaboration with regional partners. He highlights workforce development efforts with the University of Arizona’s Drachman Institute, aimed at preparing residents for jobs in home energy auditing and weatherization that support both household savings and regional emissions reductions.

Finally, Director DiBiase touches on one of the most important roles the Department plays, managing the concerns of the public while ensuring environmental protection. Learn more about the types of complaints DEQ receives from the public, how residents can report concerns, and ongoing outreach programs including the state’s “No Drive Day” and Lawn and Garden equipment exchange grants.

It’s a wide‑ranging conversation that sheds light on the daily work required to maintain environmental quality across a large, diverse county. We’re grateful to Director DiBiase for sharing his insight, and grateful to all of you for tuning in to Inside Pima County.