SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
IN THE REGULATIONS OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Water proposes to amend regulations dealing with state water quality standards to clarify how state water quality standards will be interpreted and implemented in state water pollution control programs. |
This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES issued on June 10, 2024, concerning the proposed revisions, contained in Department of Law File No. 2023200601. The department has released this SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE to advise the public that the department is amending the previously noticed regulatory language and extending the public comment period.
DEC proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 18, Chapter 70 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with water quality standards, including the following:
- 18 AAC 70.010(d) is proposed to be amended to clarify that, in addition to use of the Guidance for the Implementation of Natural Condition-Based Water Quality Standards to establish water quality-based effluent limits, DEC may establish water quality-based effluent limits for groundwater discharges based on the monitoring and corrective action requirements set out under 18 AAC 60.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons for complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Brock Tabor, DEC Division of Water at P.O. Box 111800, Juneau, Alaska 99811-1800 or by electronic mail to brock.tabor@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 11:59 p.m. on July 22, 2024.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Brock Tabor by electronic mail at brock.tabor@alaska.gov or to Water Quality Standards Section, DEC Division of Water, P.O. Box 111800, Juneau, Alaska 99811-1800. All questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. DEC will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/water-quality/standards/recent-activities/.
DEC may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Julia Schweminski at (907) 269-7660 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 not later than July 12, 2024 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Brock Tabor at brock.tabor@alaska.gov or (907) 465-5185.
After the public comment period ends, DEC will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection. DEC will make all comments received available in their entirety on DEC’s public notice site.
Statutory Authority: AS 46.03.020; AS 46.03.050; AS 46.03.070; AS 46.03.080; AS 46.03.100; AS 46.03.365
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 46.03.010 – AS 46.03.024; AS 46.03.050; AS 46.03.070; AS 46.03.080; AS 46.03.100; AS 46.03.110; AS 46.03.710; AS 46.03.720
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DEC’s Water Division keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all DEC Water Division notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to DEC’s Water Division at brock.tabor@alaska.gov giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.
June 20, 2024 ________/s/____________
Emma Pokon, Commissioner