The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has developed two general permits to allow application of specific pesticides to control invasive aquatic species, including invasive fish species and the invasive plant elodea.

DEC requests comments from the public regarding the proposed general permits. Copies of the proposed general permits are available on-line or upon request.

PROJECT NAMES:

General Permit to Apply Pesticides for the Control of Elodea – 19-GP-ELODEA

General Permit to Apply Pesticides for the Control of Invasive Fish – 19-GP-FISH

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on August 26, 2019. 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
Fax: 907-269-7510
Email: Rebecca.colvin@alaska.gov

PROJECT SUMMARY: DEC has developed two general permits to allow application of specific pesticides to control invasive species in water bodies in Alaska.

Applicants who wish to be covered under either general permit must meet all permit conditions, and must obtain a confirmation letter and project tracking number from DEC prior to pesticide application.

Elodea Control General Permit
Only elodea control projects overseen or managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Invasive Plant Program would be eligible for coverage under the proposed general permit. Only water bodies with minimal or no outflow would be treated under the proposed general permit.  This general permit will allow only the use of specific pesticide formulations with the active ingredients fluridone or diquat dibromide.

Invasive Fish Control General Permit
Only invasive fish control projects overseen or managed by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (DF&G) would be eligible for coverage under the proposed general permit.  This general permit will allow only the use of specific pesticide formulations with the active ingredient rotenone.

PROJECT NEED: 

Elodea Control
Elodea presents a significant risk to the environment. It 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. It has been identified in a number of lakes, ponds, and sloughs in Alaska in recent years. Rapid response to control this invasive plant is necessary to help prevent spread to other locations. Physical or mechanical controls are inappropriate, as these methods break the plant into fragments which can then reproduce.  DNR has successfully completed several elodea eradication projects in Alaska.

Invasive Fish Control
Invasive fish present a significant risk to the environment, particularly native fish. Some invasive species prey on native trout and salmon species; others have been found to harbor parasites or diseases which could impact native fish. Rapid response to control invasive fish is necessary to help prevent spread to other locations. Other control methods have been found to be impractical or ineffective.  DF&G has successfully completed several invasive fish eradication projects in Alaska.

 FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING EITHER PROPOSED GENERAL PERMIT, 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 ADEC 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 process, please contact Theresa Zimmerman at (907) 465-6171 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 30 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.