Department of Environmental Conservation
Notice of Adoption of Regulations


On December 5, 2024, the Department of Environmental Conservation adopted regulations in 18 AAC 70, Water Quality Standards. The regulations concern clarifying wastewater discharge standards.
The regulations were reviewed and approved by the Department of Law, signed and filed by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on December 9, 2024, and are effective on January 8, 2025. Attached is a copy of the filed regulations.

The regulation changes will first appear in Register 253, April 2025, of the Alaska Administrative Code.

These regulations amend 18 AAC 70.010(d) to clarify the procedures the department will follow when establishing quality-based effluent limits for a water of the state that is not subject to the federal Clean Water Act and does not meet state water quality standards. Additionally, the procedures the department will follow for doing so are expanded to include the monitoring requirements for groundwater under 18 AAC 60.