Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: January 23, 2025     PN Reference Number: POA-2024-00515 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: February 23, 2025                                              Waterway: Lewis Creek

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).

Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ PN Reference Number indicated above has been received[1] for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS), including wetlands, as described below, and shown on the project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are accessible from the DEC website at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

To comment on the project or request for a public hearing concerning water quality, submit comments via (preferred method) DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ or email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-2024-00515 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, Stetson Sannes, 3800 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 1400, Anchorage, AK 99524, (907) 564-4665; stetson.sannes@hilcorp.com

Project Name: Ivan River Unit Pad Expansion

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 04/01/2025 to 08/01/2025

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 1, T. 13, R. 9, Seward Meridian, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska.  Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 61.240301, -150.80008.

Purpose: To support natural gas development in Cook Inlet and the development of additional gas wells.

Description of Proposed Work: Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) is proposing to expand the Ivan River Unit gravel pad to support natural gas development in Cook Inlet. The expanded pad will increase by approximately 2.1 acres with an additional 14,100 cubic yards (CY) of gravel placed.

The expanded pad will involve the placement of gravel fill abutting existing infrastructure to support natural gas operations in the Ivan River Unit. 2.1 acres of jurisdictional Palustrine emergent wetlands as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will be directly impacted/lost as a result of this project. Since the project is located in wetlands located above the high tide line of the Cook Inlet, issuance of a USACE Section 404 Individual Permit (IP) is necessary to perform this project. Construction is anticipated to start during the fall of 2024 and will continue through the summer season of 2025 as needed.

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: The entire project area contains jurisdictional waters of the United States; therefore, complete avoidance is not practicable. Hilcorp proposes to include the following practicable avoidance measures:
   • No fill will be placed below the high tide line of Cook Inlet which would avoid impacts to documented Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Critical Habitat
   • Fill will be placed during low water conditions, or above tidal elevations
   • Project limits will be delineated with silt fencing or similar material to avoid impacts outside the proposed pad area.
   • Work will occur from the existing pad surface to avoid additional temporary impacts to the Waters of the U.S.
2. Minimization: Hilcorp will incorporate the following minimization measures into project design and construction to reduce overall impacts on the Waters of the United States:
   • The pad will be constructed with a minimum 2V:1H side slopes to minimize fill area and impacts to wetlands.
   • Regular pad surface watering will occur during operation to minimize fugitive dust deposition to the area.
   • Existing gravel sources will be used
3. Mitigation: The applicant proposes no mitigation.

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.