The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) proposes to adopt changes to the Alaska Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Funds regulations at 18 AAC 76, primarily to comply with federal rule changes resulting from the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014.  In addition, proposed changes would allow financing terms of up to 30 years, and revise finance rates to reflect fluctuations in the municipal bond market. The proposed changes include the following

(1)  Amend 18 AAC 76.010 to clarify loan eligibility requirements;
(2)  Amend 18 AAC 76.030 to clarify loan application requirements;
(3)  Amend 18 AAC 76.060 to clarify loan accounting standards
(4)  Amend 18 AAC 76.080 to clarify loan contract terms;
(5)  Amend 18 AAC 76.255 to clarify loan contract terms;
(6)  Amend 18 AAC 76.990 to amend definitions.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Carrie Bohan at ADEC Division of Water, 410 Willoughby Ave., Ste. 303, P.O. Box 111800, Juneau, AK 99811. Additionally, ADEC will accept comments by facsimile at 907-465-5177 and by electronic mail at carrie.bohan@alaska.gov.  Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 pm on May 17, 2017.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Carrie Bohan by e-mail to carrie.bohan@alaska.gov and by mail 410 Willoughby Ave., Ste. 303, P.O. Box 111800, Juneau, AK 99811.  Questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period.  The ADEC will aggregate its responses to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Division of Water's, Municipal Grant & Loans homepage at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/MuniGrantsLoans/index.htm.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Natalie Wolfe at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 seven days prior to the comment deadline to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Carrie Bohan at carrie.bohan@alaska.gov or (907) 465-5143.

After the public comment period ends, the ADEC will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED.  Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory authority: AS 37.10.052; AS 37.10.054; AS 40.25.110; AS 44.46.020; AS 46.03.020;
AS 46.03.032; AS 46.03.036

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific:
AS 46.03.032; AS 46.03.036

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

Date:   April 13, 2017

/s/

Larry Hartig, ADEC Commissioner