NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON LIMITED ALTERNATIVE TO FILTRATION IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
*This notice has been updated to reflect an extended comment period ending Dec. 21, 2024.
The Department of Environmental Conservation proposes to change regulations by allowing a limited alternative to filtration (LAF).
The Department of Environmental Conservation proposes to adopt regulation changes in 18 AAC 80 of the Alaska Administrative Code, allowing an alternative compliance option for some unfiltered surface water systems, including the following:
- adopt a new section 18 AAC 80.621 concerning limited alternative to filtration, approval, compliance requirements, and termination provisions that allow an owner of a public water system to apply for a "limited alternative to filtration" allowing source water to remain unfiltered; and
- amend 18 AAC 80.1990(a) by adopting definitions for “limited alternative to filtration” and “turbidity event.”
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments via mail to Cindy Christian, Department of Environmental Conservation, 610 University Ave., Fairbanks, AK, 99709. Comments may also be submitted electronically at https://dec.alaska.gov/comment/. Finally, the Department of Environmental Conservation will accept comments by facsimile at 907-451-2188 and by electronic mail to cindy.christian@alaska.gov. Written comments must be received not later than 11:59 p.m. on December 21, 2024.
Submitted comments are considered public records and will be posted online during the public comment period.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Cindy Christian at 610 University Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99709. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Environmental Conservation will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and the agency website at https://dec.alaska.gov/comment/.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Cindy Christian at cindy.christian@alaska.gov or 907-451-2138 not later than December 10, 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 Cindy Christian at cindy.christian@alaska.gov or 907-451-2138.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Environmental Conservation 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 regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.
Statutory authority: AS 46.03.020; AS 46.03.050; AS 46.03.710; AS 46.03.720
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 46.03.710; AS 46.03.720
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Department of Environmental Conservation keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Department of Environmental Conservation notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Environmental Conservation at julia.schweminski@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your email address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
Individuals can also sign up 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.