DEC has prepared an APDES preliminary draft permit for the Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC) Seawater System. The Preliminary Draft Permit and associated documents are available to the applicant for a 10-day review. Following the close of the 10-day applicant review period, DEC will prepare a draft permit and fact sheet for a formal 30-day public review period. Public comments will be accepted during the formal 30-day review period. You can access the documents on DEC’s Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program webpage at:
https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/
DEC Contact:
David DeHaan
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-269-8198
david.dehaan@alaska.gov
Preliminary Draft Permit Review:
Start Date: March 22, 2023
End Date: April 5, 2023 at 11:59 Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Permit No.:
AK0062285
Applicant:
Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC)
PWSSC Seawater System
1000 Orca Road
Cordova, AK 99547
Mailing Address:
300 Breakwater Ave
Cordova, AK, 99547
Proposed Project and Location:
The Prince William Sound Science Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and education institution located in Cordova, Alaska. PWSSC began construction of a new campus in 2020, the main building is 24,000 square feet and includes administrative, research, warehouse, and community program and education spaces. The facility requires a seawater supply from Orca Inlet for research in the areas of hatchery and wild salmon interactions, herring, glaciers, climate change, land-and-sea relationships, and seabird and shorebird health. Studies conducted by the researchers at PWSSC look for answers to challenges including resource use and sustainability, food webs that support coastal and inland economies, and the management, harvest and processing of fish and shellfish. PWSSC received approval to construct the seawater supply system on June 9, 2022.
This is the first permit for proposed discharge of treated seawater system effluent and filter backwash from the PWSSC Seawater System from Outfall 001A located at 60° 33’ 51.51” North latitude and 145° 44’ 48.39” West longitude. Discharge will occur at a maximum design flow rate of 219,000 gallons per day to Orca Inlet. Pollutants of concern in the discharge are dissolved oxygen, pH, fecal coliform bacteria, and enterococci bacteria, total suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, and total settleable solids. A mixing zone will not be authorized for this discharge.
Administrative Record:
The APDES preliminary 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
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-269-6285
610 University Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99709
907-451-2100
P.O. Box 1800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Location:
410 Willoughby Street, Suite 303
Juneau, AK
907-465-5300 43335
Kalifornsky Beach Road
Soldotna, AK 99615
907-262-5210
1700 E Bogard Road #B Suite #103
Wasilla, AK 99654
907-376-1850
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 reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Megan Kohler at 907-269-4198 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided in a timely manner.