PUBLIC NOTICE
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program/401 Certification
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501-2617
Phone: 907-269-6285|Email: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov

Notice of Application
for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: December 9, 2020                  PN Reference Number: POA-2009-01254
PN Expiration Date: December 28, 2020                     Waterway: Favorite Bay

Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into navigable waters, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977 (PL95-217), also must apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA, the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and other applicable State laws.

Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ Reference Number POA-2020-01254, Favorite Bay, has been received for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOUS), including wetlands, as described below. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are accessible from the DEC website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

Applicant: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, 6860 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99811, Attn: Jim Scholl

Project Name: Angoon Airport

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 5, 6 & 8, T. 51 S., R. 68 E.; Latitude 57.475520° N., Longitude -134.553167° W.; in Angoon, Alaska.

Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to construct a land-based airport on Admiralty Island to serve the community of Angoon and surrounding areas.

Project Description:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed an Environmental Impact Statement in September 2016 and issued a Record of Decision on October 2016. The scope of the new airport is:

• A 3,300-ft-long by 75-foot-wide paved runway
• A 150-foot-wide runway safety area centered on the runway centerline, extending 300 feet beyond each runway end
• A 35-foot-wide by roughly 362.5-foot-long paved taxiway
• A 120,000-square-foot paved apron area with future hangar, lease lots, passenger shelter space and vehicle parking space with lease lots and space for future development.
• A paved airport access road comprising two 9-foot-wide travel lanes with 1-foot shoulders.

The proposed airport property would cover 273.85 acres on the Angoon peninsula southeast of Angoon, southwest of the existing Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Road (Aukta Street), and north of Killisnoo Harbor. The airport would be located on lands currently owned or managed by private landowners; Kootznoowoo, Inc.; and the City of Angoon. The airport would accommodate small, wheeled aircraft and would include a single paved runway (3,300 feet long by 75 feet wide), a paved taxiway (perpendicular) and apron, terminal building, passenger parking lot, electrical control building and generator, an access road, a perimeter fence road, and weather observation systems. The access road would consist of two paved 9-foot wide travel lanes and 1-foot shoulders. The perimeter fence embankment would serve multiple purposes and would consist of a chain-link fence, one paved 9-foot wide lane with a 1-foot shoulder.

The project would permanently convert 70.06 acres of wetlands to uplands and alter 123 acres of wetlands due to tree removal. The project would also permanently impact 1,867.90 linear feet of perennial streams and alter 6,046.39 linear feet from tree removal. Approximately 550 linear feet of Stream 10 MF would be re-created on site downstream of a proposed culvert, thereby offsetting a portion of stream loss.  

After reviewing the application, the Department may certify there is reasonable assurance the activity, and any discharge that might result, will comply with the CWA, the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and other applicable State laws. The Department also may deny or waive certification.

Any person desiring to comment on the project with respect to Water Quality Certification, may submit written comments to the address above or via email to dec-401cert@alaska.gov by the Public Notice expiration date. All comments should include the PN reference number listed above in the subject heading of the email. Mailed comments must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.

The permit application and associated documents are available for review. For inquires or to request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov, or call 907-269-6285.

Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice

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 special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact DEC Human Resources Office at 907-465-6171 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 5 days of the expiration date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.