ANTIDEGRADATION IMPLEMENTATION METHODS: NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE WATER QUALITY STANDARD REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation proposes to amend the water quality standard regulations to address antidegradation implementation methods.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) proposes to adopt regulation changes in 18 AAC 70 of the Alaska Administrative Code, establishing Antidegradation Implementation Methods for APDES permitted wastewater discharges to Waters of the US in the State of Alaska, including the following:
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Amend 18 AAC 70.015 regarding pollution prevention methods and move the language to a new section at 18 AAC 70.016.
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Add a new section at 18 AAC 70.016 to describe levels of protection for waters of the United States within the State of Alaska, consistent with the federal Clean Water Act.
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Amend 18 AAC 70.990 to add new 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 Earl Crapps at ADEC Division of Water, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. Additionally, the ADEC will accept comments by facsimile at 907-269-7509 and by electronic mail at Earl.Crapps@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 August 7, 2017.
ADEC will hold an informational question and answer session to discuss the proposed regulations prior to conducting a public hearing. The session is scheduled for one hour immediately preceding the hearing.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on July 20, 2017, at the ADEC Anchorage Building, 555 Cordova Street, First Floor Main Conference Room, Anchorage, AK 99501. There will be a call-in number if you are not able to attend the meeting in person. The call-in number will be 1-800-315-6338, and the Meet Me Code will be 78594. The hearing will be held from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and may be extended to accommodate those present before 5:30 pm who did not have an opportunity to comment. The question and answer session will begin at 3:00 pm.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Earl Crapps by e-mail at Earl.Crapps@alaska.gov and by mail to 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The ADEC will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Division of Water’s Antidegradation webpage at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wqsar/Antidegradation.
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 Natalie.Wolfe@alaska.gov not later than July 13, 2017, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Earl Crapps by e-mail at Earl.Crapps@alaska.gov or at (907) 269-7681.
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 46.03.010; AS 46.03.020; AS 46.03.050; AS 46.03.070; AS 46.03.080;
AS 46.03.100; AS 46.03.110; AS 46.03.710; AS 46.03.720
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 46.03.010 – AS 46.03.120;
AS 46.03.710; AS 46.03.720
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
Date: May 31, 2017
/s/
Larry Hartig, ADEC Commissioner