Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: December 17, 2024                        PN Reference Number: FERC P-2818 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: January 16, 2025                                                            Waterway: Vodopad River

Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into waters of the United States, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), must also apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA and the Alaska Water Quality Standards (18 AAC 70). The scope of certification is limited to the water quality-related impacts of the activity subject to the Federal license or permit (40 CFR 121.3, 18 AAC 15.180).

A request has been received for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification^[1] regarding a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license renewal for the following project as described below. To comment on the project with respect to water quality, submit comments via (preferred method) DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/ public-notices/ or via email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: FERC Project P-2818 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: City and Borough of Sitka, Kord Christianson, 105 Jarvis Street, Sitka, AK 99835, (907) 747-1886; kord.christianson@cityofsitka.org

Project Name: Green Lake Hydroelectric Project Relicensing

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 03/31/2029 to 03/31/2079

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 29, T. 56S, R. 65E, Copper River Meridian, in the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska.  Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 56.987000, -135.11400.

Purpose: The project's purpose is to continue the operation of the Green Lake Hydro project.  The project is the relicensing by FERC for the Green Lake Hydroelectric Project near Sitka. The project was originally licensed in 1979, and the current license expires in 2029. 

The City and Borough of Sitka (CBS) is not proposing any changes to the existing infrastructure, project facilities, or operation under the new license.

Description of Proposed Work: The Project is located in the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska, on the Vodopad River approximately 10-air-miles southeast of Sitka.

A license application for the Project was filed with FERC on September 17, 1977, and was issued on April 5, 1979. Construction mobilization began on July 17, 1979. Construction was completed in 1982, and commercial power operations via their two generating units began shortly thereafter in March and April of 1982, respectively

The Green Lake Project boundary, referred to as the “FERC Project Boundary,” spans approximately 1,465 acres and is contained within 5,700 acres of Conveyed Land owned by CBS.

Please see the attached Pre-Application Document for the existing project facility details.

Applicant Proposed Mitigation: The applicant proposes the following mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to waters of the United States from activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material.

1. Avoidance: Since the project does not involve any new construction or discharge of pollutants into waters of the U.S., no avoidance measures are proposed.
2. Minimization: Since the project does not involve any new construction or discharge of pollutants into waters of the U.S., no minimization measures are proposed.
3. Mitigation: Since the project does not involve any new construction or discharge of pollutants into waters of the U.S., no mitigation measures are proposed.

After reviewing the application, the Department will evaluate whether the activity will comply with applicable water quality requirements (any limitation, standard, or other requirement under sections 301, 302, 306, and 307 of the CWA, any Federal and state laws or regulations implementing those sections, and any other water quality-related requirement of state law). The Department may certify (or certify with conditions) with reasonable assurance the activity and any discharge that might result will comply with water quality requirements. The Department also may deny or waive certification.

The permit application and associated documents are available for review. To inquire about or request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov or call 907-269-6285.

Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Mike Kruzinski at 907-334-0884, Mike.Kruzinski@alaska.gov or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 at least 3 days prior to the expiration/closure date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.