ADEC has prepared an APDES preliminary draft permit for Chena Power Plant. The Preliminary Draft Permit and associated documents are available to the applicant for a 10-day review. Following the close of the 10-day applicant review period, DEC will prepare a draft permit and fact sheet for a formal 45-day public review period. Public comments will be accepted during the formal 45-day review period. You can access the documents on DEC’s Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program webpage at: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/wwdp/index.htm

ADEC Contact:  Angela Hunt
555 Cordova Street
AK 99501
(907) 269-7599
Angela.Hunt@alaska.gov

Preliminary Draft Permit Review:
Start Date:      4/19/2017
End Date:      5/3/2017
Permit No.:    AK0053333

Applicant:      Aurora Energy Services, LLC
Chena Power Plant
1201 1^st Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
100 Cushman Street, Suite 210, Fairbanks 99701

Proposed Project and Location:
The Chena Power Plant (CPP), a coal-fired power plant, discharges once through (non-contact) cooling water to the Chena River through a single outfall located at 64.8480 north latitude and -147.7352 west longitude. CWA §316(a) and the regulations at 40 CFR 122.21(m)(6) as well as state regulations at 18 AAC 70.220 provide for variances from strict compliance with thermal (i.e., temperature) water quality criteria. Based on a finding that a balanced, indigenous community of shellfish, fish, and wildlife in and on the body of water into which the discharge is made would be maintained, DEC is proposing to grant a thermal variance for the Chena Power Plant in accordance with CWA §316(a)

Administrative Record:
The APDES preliminary draft permit, fact sheet, and associated documents are available for public review at the DEC Division of Water, Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program offices located in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Please contact the office of your choice to arrange for hard copies of the documents to be available for your review.

If you would like to see any additional supporting technical documents, contact Angela Hunt.

The documents are also accessible from the DEC website at:

http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wwdp/index.htm

Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice
The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this review, please contact Natalie Wolfe at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 10 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.