A Fact Sheet and associated documents are available for review. For inquiries or to request copies of documents, contact:
DEC Contact:
Anne Weaver
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Water
Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-7483
Fax: 907-269-3487
E-mail: Anne.Weaver@alaska.gov
Draft Permit Public Notice Period:
Public Notice Start Date: December 14, 2022
Public Notice Expiration Date: January 27, 2023
Permit No.:
AKG130000
Permit Name:
Aquaculture Facilities in Alaska
Proposed Permit Coverage:
Permit Coverage: DEC proposes to re-issue APDES general permit (permit) AKG130000 to aquaculture facilities in Alaska that discharge process waste and wastewater to waters of the U.S.
Description of Discharges: Aquaculture facilities may discharge a variety of pollutants generated from uneaten feed, fish feces, fish carcasses, cleaning chemicals, and medications. The main pollutants of concern include total suspended solids (TSS), settleable solids (SS), pH, ammonia, dissolved oxygen (DO), and total residual chlorine (TRC). These pollutants have the potential to contribute to a number of adverse water quality impacts, including increased levels of turbidity and residues and low dissolved oxygen.
Zone of Deposit (ZOD): DEC is proposing location-specific ZODs to allow deposits of residues from ground fish carcasses or net pens. Each ZOD will encompass a maximum total area of deposition authorized per discharge location. ZODs will be authorized in marine and estuarine waters per 18 AAC 70.210. After the submittal of a complete Notice of Intent and a public notice period, ZODs will be issued to permittees meeting the conditions of the permit.
Mixing Zone: Applicants may request modified effluent limits and facility specific mixing zones for requested parameters. DEC will authorize a mixing zone if it is consistent with the Clean Water Act and the mixing zone criteria at 18 AAC 70.240.
Tentative Determination:
DEC has tentatively determined to reissue a discharge permit for the activity described above.
Public Comments:
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the APDES draft permit must be submitted within 45 days of the issuance of this public notice. Any person desiring to comment on the permit may submit comments electronically via the DEC public notice site (preferred) at https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=i73YB.
Alternatively, you may direct written comments and requests to the attention of the DEC contact/permit writer at the email address or postal address identified above.
All comments should include the name, address, telephone number, and email address of the commenter and a concise statement of comment on the permit condition(s) and the relevant facts upon which the comment is based. Comments of either support or concern that are directed at specific, cited permit requirements are appreciated. Mailed comments and requests must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.
DEC will consider all comments when making the final decision and will respond to received comments in a Response to Comments document issued when DEC issues a final permit. The Response to Comments will be made available to the public.
Any interested person may submit a written request for a public hearing if no hearing has already been scheduled. A request for a public hearing shall state the nature of the issues to be raised as well as the requester's name, address, telephone number, and email address. DEC will hold a public hearing whenever DEC finds, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of public interest in a draft permit. DEC may also hold a public hearing if a hearing might clarify one or more issues involved in a permit decision or for other good reason in DEC’s discretion.
DEC will transmit the final permit, fact sheet (amended as appropriate), and Response to Comments to anyone who provided comments during the public review period or requested to be notified of DEC’s final decision.
DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS OR REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING
January 27, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. AKST
Administrative Record:
The APDES draft permit, fact sheet, and associated documents are available for public review at the DEC offices located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Soldotna, and Wasilla. Please contact the office of your choice to arrange for hard copies of the documents to be available for your review.
555 Cordova Street 610 University Avenue 410 Willoughby Ave #303
Anchorage, AK 99501 Fairbanks, AK 99709 Juneau, AK 99811
907-269-6285 907-451-2100 907-465-5300
43335 Kalifornsky Beach Road 1700 E Bogard Road #B
Soldotna, AK 99615 Suite #103
907-262-5210 Wasilla, AK 99654
907-376-1850
If you would like to see any additional supporting technical documents, contact Anne Weaver.
The documents are also accessible from the DEC website at:
http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/
To receive email notifications about the APDES Program, including when permits are available to review, follow the link below to join the APDES email list. http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/DEC-APDES/
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 a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Claire Fishwick at (907) 465-5871 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 45 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.