An application package for an Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan, under Alaska Statute 46.04.030 and in accordance with 18 AAC 75, has been received by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The details are as follow:
Applicant:
Alaska Railroad Corporation
P.O. Box 107500
Anchorage, AK 99510
Proposed Activity:
Review of a plan renewal application package for an Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan that is required to commit adequate resources to meet all planning requirements for prevention and response for a realistic maximum discharge from the operations of Alaska Railroad Corporation. The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) will transport petroleum products withn tank cars in over five hundred miles of diverse terrain within State of Alaska. The ARRC has main line tracks from Seward to Fairbanks and major branch lines to Whittier, Palmer, and Eielson. ARRC also has port facilities at Whittier, Anchorage, and Seward and an Interline connection with the Alaska Hydro train and the Canadian National in Whittier.
Location:
Cook Inlet (Region 3); Interior Alaska (Region 10)
Potential Results:
A potential risk exists of oil spills entering the lands or waters of the state as a result of this operation.
Activity identified as:
State Contingency Plan Number 23-CP-5091
Any person wishing to submit a request for additional information or provide comments regarding this application may do so electronically via our public notice site at https://aq.alaskadec.commentinput.com?id=9emGaNTPj . If you are unable to submit comments via this site, you may submit them in writing to Cynthia Kirkham, Department of Environmental Conservation, SPAR/PPRP, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, 907-334-5940 (phone), or Cynthia.Kirkham@alaska.gov . The full contents of all submitted comments are considered public records and will be posted online in full during the public comment period. Comments submitted in writing directly to the Plan Reviewer will be uploaded to the public comment site. It is preferable for commenters to submit directly through the public comment site.
The public comment period for this application begins on May 4, 2023 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on June 2, 2023. Requests for additional information and comments must be received by 11:59 pm on June 2, 2023. It is the responsibility of the commenter to verify that email submissions are received by the deadline. An additional comment period may be provided in accordance with 18 AAC 75.455(d).
The application package is available for public review on the department’s website at http://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/SPAR/PublicMVC/IPP/CPlansUnderReview .
The department will hold a public hearing on the plan application if it determines that good cause exists. Residents in the affected area or the governing body of an affected municipality may request a public hearing by writing to the Department of Environmental Conservation, at the above address prior to May 19, 2023. 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 an accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Meg Kohler at megan.kohler@alaska.gov or (907) 269-4198 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 prior to May 24, 2023 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.