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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TOM HORNE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT ARIZONA'S PERSISTENT TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, ARIZONA LEADERS WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND END THE FIGHT BETWEEN STATES OVER COLORADO RIVER WATER.

>>> AND NEW RESEARCH LOOKS AT HEALTH THREATS FROM DUST AND SPORES CAUSED BY MINING OPERATIONS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A RECENT REPORT BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOUND THAT MORE THAN 1,000 TEACHERS IN THE STATE HAVE RESIGNED SINCE JULY.

YET ANOTHER INDICATION THAT ARIZONA IS STILL EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMS TO BE EVER PERSISTENT SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

WE WELCOME STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TOM HORNE.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, TED.

TED: A THOUSAND PROFESSORS HAVE LEFT THE PROFESSION AS OF JULY.

FROM WHERE YOU SIT, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

>> WELL, THE NUMBER ONE REASON IS SALARY.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF THE TEACHERS.

AND THE NUMBER TWO REASON IS, A FAILURE BY SOME ADMINISTRATORS NOT TO SUPPORT TEACHERS ON ISSUES OF DISCIPLINE.

SO I HAVE A LETTER FROM A TEACHER FROM PHOENIX UNION, WHICH IS NOTORIOUSLY LACKS ON DISCIPLINE SAYING SHE COULD NAME 40 TEACHERS THAT HAVE LEFT BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO GET SUPPORT ON DISCIPLINE.

IF YOU DON'T GET SUPPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON DISCIPLINE, THE KIDS GET UNRULY AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE TEACHER.

TED: WITH THIS GOING ON, MOST OF THESE JOBS, THESE VACANCIES ARE NOW, I WOULD IMAGINE SOME OF THESE ARE FILLED BY SUBSTITUTES?

>> YES, ABOUT 4,000 VACANCIES THAT ARE FILLED MOSTLY BY PERMANENT SUBSTITUTES THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED SO THE KIDS ARE GETTING CHEATED AND A THOUSAND WHERE THERE IS NOBODY AT ALL.

TED: CERTIFICATION, I SHOULD SAY, THE REQUIREMENTS, HAVE THEY MET, SOME OF THE SUBS HAVEN'T MET THOSE, HAVE THEY?

>> RIGHT.

TED: WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THEM?

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS RAISE THEIR SALARIES AND WE HAVE TO PASS A BILL, WHICH I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE TO GET INCENTIVES TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATORS ON DISCIPLINE.

TED: I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, TOM.

WE ALWAYS HAVE A SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

>> YES, BUT IT'S REACHED A POINT WHERE IT'S REALLY AN EMERGENCY, I'M TRYING TO SOUND THE BELL AND ALERT PEOPLE.

IT'S REALLY AN EMERGENCY NOW.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO TAKE STRONG ACTION.

I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR TO DO IT BECAUSE THIS IS THE DEADLINE YEAR FOR PROP 123, DEALING WITH LINDA TRUST, AND TEACHER SALARIES INCREASE CAN COME OUT OF THE LAND TRUST SO IT DOESN'T AFFECT ANYONE'S TAXES, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL HAPPEN.

TED: AND YET, I CAN HEAR CRITICS SAYING THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE CONSTANTLY VOTING ON THIS, AND CONSTANTLY APPROVING INCREASED FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, INCREASED FUNDING FOR TEACHERS AND YET, WE HAVE THE SITUATION.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, WHEN WE SAY WE'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING INCREASES.

51 STATES PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WE'RE 51st IN OUR SUPPORT PER STUDENT.

TED: RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE.

>> IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE.

TED: VOTERS VOTED ON THIS AND SAID WE WANT TEACHERS TO GET MORE MONEY AND MORE MONEY TO GO TO EDUCATION.

THEY VOTED FOR THIS, WHY HASN'T IT HAPPENED?

>> HASN'T HAPPENED SUFFICIENTLY.

MATT GRESS HAD A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES BY $10,000.

THAT WOULD HAVE PUT US IN THE TOP TEN FOR STARTING TEACHERS, UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T PASS.

>> THE PROBLEM OF RECRUITING.

OBVIOUSLY, THE PROBLEM OF RETENTION IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> YES.

TED: WHEN HAVE YOU COMPETITIVE STATES WITH COMPETITIVE SALARIES THAT ARE SIMPLY MORE LUCRATIVE?

>> I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN KINGMAN, THEY'RE CLOSE TO OTHER STATES AND IT'S A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IF YOU'RE CLOSE TO ANOTHER STATE WHERE PEOPLE CAN MOVE OVER AND GET MORE SALARY.

TED: AND INFLATION IS PLAYING A PART AS WELL, ISN'T IT?

>> YES.

TED: I MENTIONED PROP 123, THE USE OF THE STATE LAND TRUST FUNDS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE DONE?

DO YOU WANT THAT TO BE TARGETED SOLELY FOR TEACHERS, THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT IT'S NOT JUST TEACHERS THAT NEED HELP IN EDUCATION.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, AT THE LEGISLATURE, AMONG THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, THEY WANT TO HELP THE TEACHERS, AND SO YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED, WHAT ABOUT THE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, THE SECRETARIES AND THE BUS DRIVERS AND SO ON, BUT I'LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET.

SO IF ALL WE CAN GET IS FOR THE TEACHERS, HOPEFULLY THE DISTRICTS BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK IF, FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, IT'S BEEN PART OF THE PROGRAM OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY TO INCREASE SALARY SPECIFICALLY FOR TEACHERS, AND TO SEND THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO TEACHERS BECAUSE UNDER GOVERNOR DUCEY, THEY DID AN INCREASE BUT EXTENT TO THE DISTRICTS AND THEY AVERTED SOME OF THE MONEY TO OTHER THINGS.

THEY WANT THE MONEY TO GO DIRECTLY TO TEACHERS AND I SUPPORT THAT.

TED: BY THE WAY, THE PROP 123, MESSING AROUND WITH THAT, YOU GOT TO GET VOTER APPROVAL.

>> YES.

TED: YOU THINK THEY WILL GO WITH THAT?

>> THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF EDUCATION.

TED: WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF SURVEYS ON TEACHERS, AND YOU KNOW, SALARY OBVIOUSLY IS UP THERE, BUT SO IS FEELING UNDERAPPRECIATED.

>> RIGHT.

TED: DO YOU SEE THAT?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO HELP TEACHERS WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GETTING IT FROM ALL SIDES?

>> I JUST DID A PRESS CONFERENCE HONORING FIVE SCHOOLS THAT GOT BLUE RIBBON AWARDS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID THAT, AND THEY USED TO HAVE THEM COME TO WASHINGTON.

THIS YEAR THEY STOPPED.

SO I DID IT.

AND I HAVE ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE COMING UP THIS WEEK ABOUT HONORING TEACHERS AND HONORING SCHOOLS THAT HAVE DONE WELL.

I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO THE TEACHERS.

>> YET, WE HEAR FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THE GOVERNOR HAD A QUOTE SAYING THE LEGISLATURE SINGLES OUT AND ATTACKS THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT, WHAT CAN'T BE TAUGHT, SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO SEE CRIMINAL ACTION IF YOU TEACH SOMETHING THIS WAY.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO SHOW SUPPORT.

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS WHAT IT IS.

NOW THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, IF YOU TEACH DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, YOU COULD LOSE YOUR FEDERAL FUNDING.

I'M THE ONE THAT WOULD ENFORCE THAT.

IT'S EARLIER APPLICATION, CRITICAL RACE THEORY SINCE 2008, WHEN I GOT A BILL PASSED TO STOP ETHNIC STUDIES AT TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MY BELIEF IS THAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS INDIVIDUAL MERIT.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTO DEI HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE THEORY IT SHOULD BE RACIAL ENTITLEMENT.

THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE HARD WORK OR CONSCIENTIOUSNESS OR CREATIVITY.

IF THEY WIN, WE COULD BE A MEDIOCRE COUNTRY AND CHINA IS THE SUPER POWER CALLING THE SHOTS.

I AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT ON THIS.

I THINK WE NEED TO STOP PAYING ATTENTION TO PEOPLE'S RACE.

IT'S NOT RELEVANT TO ANYTHING.

WE NEED TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL MERIT AS OUR GOLD STANDARD.

TED: DO YOU THINK THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE TEACHING PROFESSION?

>> IT WILL ATTRACT THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

TED: BUT WILL IT ATTRACT PEOPLE, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, THE RIGHT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES TO THE PROFESSION.

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO STOP SAYING IT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT TEACHERS THAT DISAGREE WITH ME.

TED: OKAY, SO HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS?

LAST QUESTION, I KNOW THE STATE OF EDUCATION SPEECHES, YOU ARE SAYING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF LET'S ADDRESS TEACHER SALARY.

ARE LAWMAKERS LISTENING?

IF THEY'RE LISTENING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUT IT?

>> THE PLAN WAS TO DO IT LAST YEAR OUT OF PROP 123, BUT THERE WERE POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS AND SO THEY DIDN'T PASS THEM, THEY KNEW THEY HAD ANOTHER YEAR.

THIS YEAR IS THE DEADLINE YEAR.

I'M HOPEFUL IT WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

TED: ALL RIGHT, TOM HORNE, ARIZONA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

COME BACK ANY TIME YOU WANT.

TED: THANKS.

>> THANKS.

.

>> THE SEVEN STATES THAT SHARE COLORADO RIVER WATER MISSED THE DEADLINE ON WATER ALLOCATIONS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THREATENED TO INTERVENE IF AN AGREEMENT WASN'T REACHED AND LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES ARE ASKING FOR THE INTERVENTION TO END THE STALEMATE.

JOINING US IS SARAH PORTER, DIRECTOR OF KYL CENTER WATER POLICY.

WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN BY NOVEMBER 11th?

>> THE ASPIRATION, REALLY, OF THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR, WHO'S THE BOSS OF THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM OF MANAGING THE RESERVOIRS, THAT THE SEVEN STATES THAT SHARE COLORADO RIVER WATER WOULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON NEW GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING THE SYSTEM IN THIS TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED SHORTAGE OF WATER IN THE SYSTEM.

SO ESSENTIALLY, A LOT OF TECHNICAL GUIDELINES, BUT A SHARING OF SHORTAGE WAS WHAT THEY WERE HOPING FOR.

TED: AND THEY DIDN'T GET IT.

>> RIGHT.

TED: WHY?

>> THERE'S A BIG IMPASSE BETWEEN THE UPPER BASIN STATES OF COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, WYOMING AND UTAH, AND THE LOWER BASIN STATES WHICH ARE ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.

THE CRUX OF THE DISAGREEMENT IS THAT THE UPPER BASIN STATES WILL NOT AGREE TO TAKE CUTS IN THE WATER THAT THEY TAKE OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

THE LOWER BASIN HAS COME FORWARD AND SAID WE'LL TAKE THE FIRST HUGE CUT OF 1.5 MILLION ACRE FEET OF THE 7 1/2 THAT THE LOWER BASIN HAS A PORTION OF IT.

THEY REQUEST THE UPPER BASIN SHARE IN THE SHORTAGE, AND THE UPPER BASIN IS REFUSING TO SHARE IN A WAY THE LOWER BASIN REGARDS AS MEANINGFUL AND MEASURABLE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ARE THE UPPER BASIN STATES SAYING NO OUTRIGHT, OR NO, WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT HERE AND LITTLE THERE AND THE LOWER BASIN STATES SAY THAT'S NOT GOING TO CUT IT?

>> IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

THE UPPER BASIN'S CONTENTION HAS BEEN WE'VE NEVER USED OUR FULL APPORTIONMENT.

WE USE FAR LESS THAN OUR FULL APPORTIONMENT, WE DON'T THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO ASK TO TAKE CUTS WHEN WE'RE NOT USING OUR FULL AMOUNT.

BY THE SAME TOKEN, THE LOWER BASIN HAS BEEN REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT THE THREE STATES TAKE OUT OF THE RIVER.

TED: WE'VE TALKED MANY TIMES HOW YOU REALLY DON'T WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME IN HERE AND START TELLING EVERYONE HOW MUCH WATER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE.

ARIZONA DOESN'T WANT IT.

ARIZONA WANTS IT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> IF A DEAL COULD BE REACHED.

A DEAL THAT FEELS FAIR TO CROSS THE SEVEN STATES, THAT'S BEST BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK ACCORDING TO AGREEMENT AND CONSENSUS.

SINCE IT APPEARS THAT A DEAL CANNOT BE REACHED, ARIZONA HAS LAID OUT ITS CASE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY HERE'S WHY IT REALLY MATTERS TO ARIZONA.

TED: IS THERE ANY INDICATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT THEY WOULD DO, HOW THEY WOULD LOOK AT THIS, HOW THEY WOULD LOOK AT ARIZONA?

>> WE HAVE SOME IDEA ABOUT HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD JUSTIFY TAKING ACTION OUTSIDE OF AN AGREEMENT AMONG THE SEVEN STATES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTIONS WOULD BE.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE FEDS WOULD BE WILLING TO DELIVER WATER OUT OF PRIORITY, AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

TED: I THINK A BIG DEAL WOULD ALSO BE, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE SEMICONDUCTOR BOOM HERE IN ARIZONA.

YOU'RE TALKING NATIONAL SECURITY NOW, AREN'T YOU?

>> YEAH, YEAH, YOU ARE.

A GREAT BIG CITY OF 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF ARGUMENTS THAT ARIZONA CAN MAKE, AND WE'RE REALLY CLEARLY STATED IN THE BIPARTISAN LETTER.

TED: THE FACT THAT ARIZONA HAS TRIED CONSERVATION MEASURES.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM OVER THE YEARS, AND TRIED TO DO AS BEST -- MAYBE NOT AS BEST, BUT CERTAINLY MAKE A MARK AND TRY AND DO SOMETHING -- WILL THAT PLAY INTO THE DECISION BY THE FEDS?

>> CERTAINLY ONE WOULD HOPE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO FACTOR INTO ANY DECISION-MAKING BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR, EXCEPT WHAT'S BEEN INDICATE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED UP TO NOW, BUT WHAT WE DO THINK THAT PLACES THAT CAN SHOW THAT THEY'RE REALLY TRYING, THEY'RE TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT, COOPERATIVE, THAT PUTS US IN A BETTER POSITION, AND THE LOWER BASIN HAS TAKEN GREAT STRIDES IN REDUCING WATER USE.

YEAR BEFORE LAST, IT WAS THE LOWEST WATER USE ON RECORD BY THE LOWER BASIN.

TED: INTERESTING, ARE THERE CONSERVATION MEASURES BY THE UPPER STATES YOU ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOCATED?

>> ALL OF THE WATER DELIVERED TO THE LOWER BASIN IS DELIVERED OUT OF A RESERVOIR.

WE CAN COUNT IT, COUNT EVERY GALLON.

IN THE UPPER BASIN, IT'S HOW MUCH WATER THEY LEAVE IN THE SYSTEM TO FLOW INTO THE RESERVOIRS TO A GREAT EXTENT.

THERE'S RESERVOIRS UPSTREAM THAT PEOPLE RELY ON, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO MEASURE AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE UPPER BASIN ABOUT ADOPTING THE TYPES OF MEASUREMENT THAT WOULD SATISFY THE LOWER BASIN, SO THE TWO SIDES, THE LOWER BASIN WOULD SAY THE UPPER BASIN ISN'T WILLING TO MEASURE CONSERVATION IN A WAY THAT WOULD GUARANTEE THE LOWER BASIN THAT THOSE CUTS ARE HAPPENING.

TED: WOW.

OKAY, SO I KNOW THAT OCTOBER 1 NEXT YEAR IS THE REAL DEADLINE, THE CAPITAL D DEADLINE AS FAR AS GETTING A COMPACT.

WAS THIS DEADLINE LIKE THE FIRST HURTLE TO CLEAR BEFORE OCTOBER 1?

>> KINDA.

THERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR A NEW AGREEMENT TO BE PUT IN, INCLUDING FINALIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

ARIZONA HAS TO GET LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.

IN MANY CASES THERE'S A NEED FOR CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL, SO IN THE MINDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, THE NOVEMBER 11 DEADLINE WAS BACKDATING TO A TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO GET EVERYTHING DONE IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT A NEW PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND WE DO HAVE THE PLAN IN PLACE, AS YOU SAY, TILL NEXT OCTOBER, AND WOULD LIKE TO PLAN FOR THE YEARS FOLLOWING THAT.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE GUIDELINES IN PLACE.

TED: WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH FOR BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 1?

>> SO WHAT WE HEAR, THE NEGOTIATORS ARE STILL WORKING AT IT.

THERE'S A BIG ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN LATE DECEMBER.

MAYBE THERE WILL BE A BREAKTHROUGH BY THEN, AND IF THERE ISN'T, WE CAN EXPECT, WE CAN EXPECT AN INDICATION PROBABLY IN THE NEXT BIG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF ACTIONS THAT THE FEDS WOULD BE WILLING TO DO.

SOME OF THIS DEPENDS ON HYDROLOGY.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH SNOWPACK?

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS NOT TO BE HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD YEAR THAT HELPS THE RESERVOIR STAY UP A LITTLE BIT.

TED: SARAH PORTER, KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY.

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INSIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

.

TED: THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA'S SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER RECENTLY RECEIVED A FIVE-YEAR GRANT TO HELP BETTER UNDERSTAND AND MITIGATE HEALTH THREATS WITHIN MINING COMMUNITIES, XINXIN DING IS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY AND RAINA MAYER WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: U OF A FORMER DIRECTOR, CURRENT DIRECTOR, CORRECT?

>> YES.

TED: WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

>> ALL ABOUT TRYING TO SOLVE SOME OF THE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD OR CONTAMINATION PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE STATE AND PROTECT HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

TED: AND LOOKING AT BASICALLY SPORES AND DUST FROM MINING OPERATIONS?

>> SO YEAH, WE ALL KNOW THAT HERE IN ARIZONA WE GOT LOTS OF DUST, PARTICULARLY CERTAIN REGIONS HERE.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE DUST, IN THE CHEMICALS, THE TOXIC METALES AND SO ON AND WHAT EXPOSURES WE GET AND HOW THEY PREVENT IT.

TED: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EXPOSURE AND WHAT EXPOSURE CAUSES?

>> WE KNOW IT HAS ARSENIC IS ONE OF THE MAJOR TOXIC METALES AND HAS OTHER METALES IN IT TOO AND HAS FUNGAL SPORES THAT CAN CAUSE INFECTIONS AND LEADS TO LUNG DISEASES LIKE ASTHMA, AND VALLEY FEVER INCLUDED AS WELL, SO IT'S QUITE SERIOUS.

TED: AND AGAIN, THE SPORES, ARE THEY SIMILAR?

DO THE SPORES HAVE THIS METAL ATTACHMENTS?

THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> THE SPORES ARE PART OF THE PARTICLE COMPLEX.

SO THE PARTICLE HAS SPORES ATTACHED AND METALS ATTACHED AND THE SPORES KIND OF INTERACT WITH THE METALS TO PERHAPS MAKE THE METALS MORE TOXIC.

TED: MY GOODNESS.

NICOLE: .

>> AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE SPORES TO MAKE IMPACT.

>> THE MINING COMMUNITY, WHAT HAVE WE SEEN SO FAR?

>> WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME MINING COMMUNITIES THAT NEIGHBOR MINE WASTE SITES, AND WE KNOW THAT WINDSTORMS BLOW MINE TAILINGS INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND CAUSE EXPOSURE.

WE'VE DONE MEASUREMENTS ON YARD SOILS, MEASUREMENTS INSIDE HOMES.

THERE ARE ELEVATED CONCENTRATIONS OF METALS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO.

TED: $14.8 MILLION, FIVE YEAR GRANT, ARSENIC IS ONE OF THEM, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A MODEL TO LEARN ABOUT THE EXPOSURE?

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, THE PROJECT, THE GRANT HAS FOUR PROJECTS.

TWO BIOMEDICAL PROJECTS AND TWO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

THE TWO BIOMEDICAL PROJECTS HOW ARSENIC AND OTHER METALS IN THE PARTICLES MAKE THE AIRWAYS MORE VULNERABLE TO INFECTION BY FUNGAL SPORES, BY MOLD.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST ONE.

SECOND PROJECT IS TO LOOK AT WHAT EXACTLY IN THE PARTICLE IS THE MOST POTENT IN CAUSING TOXICITY, AND WHAT PART IS MOST VULNERABLE, AND WHAT DISEASES DO THEY ACTUALLY CAUSE.

TED: YEAH, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OBVIOUSLY LUNG DISEASE IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, IS AT RISK HERE.

MINE TAILINGS FOR REVEGETATION.

I READ ABOUT THAT.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, THE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS, ONE OF THEM IS ACTUALLY CHARACTERIZING THE MINE TAILING DUSTS THAT FORM.

HOW BIG ARE THE PARTICLES, WHAT METALS ARE ASSOCIATED, AND IF YOU EXPOSE THOSE PARTICLES TO LUNG FLUIDS, HOW MUCH OF THE METAL COMES OUT TO CAUSE TOXICITY.

TED: WOW.

>> THE FINAL ONE IS THE REVEGETATION, WHERE IF YOU VEGETATE, YOU CAN SUPPRESS DUST EMISSION, AND THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM, RIGHT?

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT PLANTS THAT DID THRIVE AND SURVIVE ON MINE TAILINGS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PLANTS THAT BOTH ACCUMULATE METALS INTO ABOVE GROUND TISSUES SO THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY HARVEST THEM AND COLLECT THE METALS.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT PLANTS THAT STABILIZE METALS IN THE SOIL.

SO WE'D LIKE TO IDENTIFY SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, DEPENDING ON WHAT COMMUNITIES WANT.

TED: AND LAST QUESTION, WILL REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, OBVIOUSLY THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES AND SUCH, BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE PRETTY ADVANCED STUFF SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THERE.

>> YEAH, THERE ARE SEVERAL FRONTS THAT AFFECT REAL WORLD.

ONE IS THE HEALTH THAT SETS STANDARDS FOR EXPOSURE SAFETY.

YOU LOOK AT THE PHONE AND SEE TODAY'S AIR QUALITY EVENT.

THAT ACCOUNTS FOR PARTICLE ABUNDANCE, IT DOESN'T TELL YOU WHAT'S IN THE PARTICLE.

HOW MUCH ARSENIC IS IN THE PARTICLE YOU ARE EXPOSED TO.

WE'RE HOPING IN THE FUTURE WE CAN HELP WITH THAT.

AND WE HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS THAT BETTER INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RISKS THEY'RE FACING, AND IDENTIFY THE SITES THAT ARE BAD.

TED: VERY GOOD, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GRANT.

THAT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THESE DAYS, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

XINXIN DING AND RAINA MAIER, U OF A. CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.