NOTICE OF PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF AN

ALASKA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (APDES)

INDIVIDUAL PERMIT TO DISCHARGE TO WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES

For inquiries or to request copies of documents, contact:

DEC Contact: Marie Klingman, 610 University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99709; 907-451-2101; Marie.Klingman@alaska.gov

Draft Permit Public Notice Period:

Public Notice Start Date: 4/30/2024
Public Notice Expiration Date: 5/29/2024 11:59 p.m. Alaska Daylight Savings Time

Permit Number: 

AK0053619

Applicant:

Alaska Electric and Energy Cooperative, Inc.
Nikiski Combined Cycle Plant
Mile 21.5 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, AK 99611

280 Airport Way, Kenai AK 99611-5280

Proposed Project and Location:

Facility Activity:
Discharge of intermittent, low-volume wastewater from the Nikiski Combined Cycle Plant. The wastestream consists of first-stage reverse osmosis reject, reverse osmosis membrane cleaning waste, raw water treatment system filtration unit backwash, and wastewater from water treatment building sinks and floor drains. Discharge shall occur at a daily maximum flow rate of 42,000 gallons per day.
Discharge Location:
The Nikiski Combined Cycle Plant discharges into Cook Inlet at 60.6759293’ North latitude and 151.3953853’ West longitude.
Mixing Zones:
Mixing zones are proposed for arsenic, copper, manganese, temperature, and whole effluent toxicity. The chronic mixing zone measures 9.3 meters long and 0.36 meters wide. The acute mixing zone, contained within the chronic mixing zone, measures 2.9 meters long and 0.04 meters wide.

Tentative Determination:

DEC has tentatively determined to reissue a discharge permit to the above-listed applicant.

Public Comments:

Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the draft permit must be submitted within 30 days of the issuance of this public notice. Please 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 and telephone number. 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 final decision.

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS OR REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING:
5/29/2024 at 11:59 p.m. Alaska Daylight Savings Time

Administrative Record:

The APDES draft permit, fact sheet, permit application, 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.

If you would like further information or to see any additional supporting technical documents, contact Marie Klingman. The documents are also accessible from the DEC website at: https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

To receive email notifications about the APDES Program, including when permits are available to review, subscribe to the APDES email list at https://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 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.