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: January 15, 2021       PN Reference Number: POA-2019-00082
PN Expiration Date: February 5, 2021             Waterway: Haggard Creek

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-2019-00082, Haggard Creek, has been received for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOUS), including wetlands, as described below and shown on the enclosed project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are also accessible from the DEC website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

Any person desiring to comment on the project with respect to water quality, may submit comments electronically via the DEC public notice site (preferred method) at http://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=SbUVf.

Alternatively, you may direct written comments or requests for a public hearing via email or mail to the address listed above by the Public Notice expiration date. All comments submitted via mail or email should include the PN reference number listed above in the subject heading. Mailed comments must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.

Applicant: Dept. of Transportation and Public Facilities, 2301 Peger Road, Jill Baxter-McIntosh, Environmental Impact Analyst, jill.baxter-mcintosh@alaska.gov, 907-518-0066

Project Name: Richardson Highway MP 159-167 Reconstruction

Location: The project site is on the Richardson Highway between Mile Posts (MP) 159 and 167, located within: USGS Quad Gulkana C–3, T 10 N., R 01 W., Sections 5 & 6, T 11 N., R 01 W., Sections 6, 8, 16, 17, 21, 28, 29, and 32 and USGS Quad Gulkana D–3, T 12 N., R 01 W., Section 32. Three proposed disposal areas along the Richardson Highway include (1) 62.71389° N., -145.4333° W. to 62.72083° N., -145.4350° W.;
(2) 62.7225° N., -145.4353° W. to 62.72889° N., -145.4367° W.; and (3) 62.73694° N., -145.4375° W. to 62.75111° N., -145.455° W.; near Glennallen, Alaska.

Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to improve safety on this stretch of highway. Proposed work would modify the original permit to increase the wetland acres impacted by placement of fill additional disposal sites. This is a precautionary contingency proposal as the soil, which is rich in permafrost and fine particles, are wet and slumping and the original volume of excavated materials cannot be piled as originally planned.

Project Description: The proposed modification includes additional of three new spoil disposal areas in Palustrine Scrub Shrub wetlands. A maximum of 25.9 acres of impacts are anticipated if all the proposed disposal areas are needed for the project. This will be the result of placing approximately 70,500 cubic yards of unusable material in stabilization berms along the road embankment. Estimations of acreage and fill quantities were made assuming a 3:1 catch slope and 10-ft offset from the edge of right-of-way.

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.

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 (ADA) 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 ADA Coordinator Brian Blessington at 907-269-6272 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.