The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture has applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a permit to apply herbicide to control invasive elodea in Totchaket Slough, north of Nenana.

The following project is proposed and is being reviewed by the appropriate regulatory programs.  DEC requests comments from the public regarding the permit application. Copies of the application are available on-line or upon request.

PROJECT NAME: 2018 Totchaket Slough Elodea Aquatic Pesticide Use Permit.

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on May 5, 2018. To ensure that your comments are considered in relation to this application, please include the project name at the beginning of your comment. To be considered, comments must be submitted in writing to DEC at the following address:

Rebecca Colvin
Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Program
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-7802
Fax: 907-269-7510
Email: Rebecca.colvin@alaska.gov

PROJECT SUMMARY AND LOCATION: The Alaska Division of Agriculture has applied to DEC for an aquatic pesticide use permit to apply herbicide to Totchaket Slough to control invasive elodea.

Treatment for elodea in this area was previously permitted under pesticide use permit 16-AQU-07. However, the proposed treatment under that permit needs to be altered. As a result, this new permit has been proposed, and portions of the previous permit related to treatment of Totchaket Slough will be rescinded prior to issuance of any new permit.

The proposed products are SonarGenesis, EPA registration number 67690-54; and SonarONE, EPA registration number 67690-45. Both have the active ingredient Fluridone. Treatment is proposed to occur between May and September throughout the duration of the permit.

PROJECT NEED:  Elodea is an invasive aquatic plant that has the potential to grow abundantly and compromise water quality, hinder boat and float plane traffic, reduce dissolved oxygen, and impact fisheries. Control of this invasive plant will help prevent spread to other locations. Physical or mechanical controls are inappropriate, as these methods break the plant into fragments which can then reproduce.

PERMIT APPLICANT:         
Division of Agriculture
5310 S. Bodenburg Spur Rd.
Palmer, AK 99645

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE APPLICATION CONTACT:

Karin Hendrickson
Department of Environmental Conservation
Pesticide Control Program                
1700 E. Bogard Rd. #B103, Wasilla AK 99654
Phone:  (907) 376-1856
Email:  karin.hendrickson@alaska.gov

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 public process, please contact Natalie Wolfe at 907-269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 by the close of the public comment period to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.