PUBLIC NOTICE

Total Maximum Daily Load for Metals in the Marine Sediments of Hawk Inlet, near Juneau Alaska

Alaska’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies includes the area of Hawk Inlet immediately around the Greens Creek Mine Ore Concentrate Loading Dock for impairment by metals in sediment.  A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was developed for cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc in the marine sediment. A TMDL is a “pollution budget” designed to restore the health of an impaired waterbody. A TMDL calculates how much pollution a water body can sustain and still meet the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and suggests ways to achieve this goal.

Increased levels of metals are present in bottom marine sediment in two areas of Hawk Inlet; at the Greens Creek Mine loading dock and near the northern end of Hawk Inlet. An ore concentrate spill in 1989, followed by cleanup actions in 1995, occurred at the loading dock. A pre-public stakeholders’ comment period was held from March 7 - March 30. Additional data was received during and after the comment period. All data received before August 18, 2016 has been incorporated into this draft TMDL.

This draft TMDL is now available for public comment. The 45-day public notice period runs from September 29, 2016 – November 14, 2016. A public meeting is planned for October 25, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the 2^nd floor conference room at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) offices (address below). For those who cannot attend in person, Skype for Business will be available for visual conferencing needs. Please provide your email contact prior to the meeting.

Public comments on the draft TMDL must be submitted in writing through email, fax or mail and directed to the contact listed below by 5:00 PM November 14, 2016. If anyone wishes to submit additional data, this data needs to be submitted within the public comment period for consideration and incorporation into the final TMDL. Electronic submission of data is preferred.

Please find the draft TMDL and Factsheet on the DEC website at: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/wqsar/index.htm.

For questions, to obtain hard copies of the draft TMDL, or to submit comments, contact:

To sign up to get DEC Nonpoint Source program announcements visit http://list.state.ak.us/soalists/dec.wqsar.nps/jl.htm

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 through the Alaska Relay Service, TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711, or www.akrelay.com, within 30 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.