NOTICE OF REVISION TO GENERAL PERMIT FOR APPLICATION OF AQUATIC PESTICIDE TO CONTROL INVASIVE ELODEA

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would like to revise the current general permit under which pesticides may be applied to control the invasive plant elodea.

DEC requests comments from the public regarding the proposed revision. Copies of the proposed revised permit are available on-line or upon request.

PROJECT NAME: Revision to General Permit 24-GP-ELODEA
WRITTEN COMMENTS: Comments must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on May 2, 2025. To ensure that your comments are considered in relation to this application, please include the project name at the beginning of your comment. To be considered, comments must be submitted in writing to DEC at the following address:

Rebecca Colvin
Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Program
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Fax: 907-269-7510
Email: Rebecca.colvin@alaska.gov

PROJECT SUMMARY: DEC has a current general permit to allow application of specific pesticides to control the invasive plant elodea in lakes and ponds in Alaska.

The existing general permit addresses elodea control projects overseen or managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources only, and allows the use of specific pesticide formulations with the active ingredients fluridone or diquat dibromide only. Applicants who wish to be covered under a general permit must meet all permit conditions and must obtain a confirmation letter and project tracking number from DEC prior to pesticide application. None of these parameters would change under the proposed revision.

DEC proposes to add one more fluridone pesticide product to the list of approved pesticides under the general permit.

PROJECT NEED: 

Elodea presents a significant risk to the environment. It is an invasive aquatic plant that has the potential to grow abundantly and compromise water quality, hinder boat and float plane traffic, reduce dissolved oxygen, and impact fisheries. It has been identified in a number of lakes, ponds, and sloughs in Alaska in recent years. Physical or mechanical controls are inappropriate, as these methods break the plant into fragments which can then reproduce.

Rapid response to control this invasive plant is necessary to help prevent spread to other locations. Application under the general permit has allowed DNR to safely and quickly address several elodea outbreaks.

A new formulation of pesticide is now available that offers some advantages over existing authorized products. This pesticide contains the same active ingredient and works in the same way. However, it is more concentrated, which means less product needs to be transported. This is an advantage, particularly in Alaska with it’s vast territory and remote lakes that may need treatment. DEC proposes to add this product to the allowable pesticides to provide increased flexibility to respond and control invasive elodea.

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVISION, CONTACT:
Karin Hendrickson
Department of Environmental Conservation
Pesticide Control Program         
1700 E. Bogard Rd. #B103, Wasilla AK 99654
Email:  karin.hendrickson@alaska.gov

ADEC complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Megan MacPherson at megan.macpherson@alaska.gov, 907-269-3096, Alaska Relay Service/TTY/TDD 800-770-8973, or dial 711 within 10 days prior to closure of this public notice period to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.