Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: May 20, 2025          PN Reference Number: POA-2000-00658 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: June 20, 2025                          Waterway: Turnagain Arm/Portage 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 a public hearing with respect to 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-2000-00658 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: All Points North, Max Schillinger, PO BOX 4207, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 355-4185; max@allpointsnorth.us

Project Name: Portage Creek Campground Project

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 04/15/2025 to 11/30/2025

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 31, T. 09n, R. 003e, Seward Meridian, in Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 60.830160, -148.97988.

Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to construct a small private campground and visitor center for RVs and camping tents.

Description of Proposed Work: To fill 0.30 acres of estuarine wetlands with 1,066 cubic yards to construct a small campground.

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 applicant has stated that, due to the parcel’s small size, avoiding wetland impacts is not feasible; the space proposed for fill is needed to ensure the safety of multiple recreational uses, including RV parking and turning around.
2. Minimization: The project fill is as small as possible to make a viable commercial lot. The applicant would be implementing best management practices to minimize impacts to adjacent wetlands. Minimization measures would include installing silt curtains to minimize sediment transport, reseeding disturbed areas, and install a culvert to maintain hydrological connectivity in the wetland slough to maintain hydrological connectivity.
3. Mitigation: 0.33 wetland credits have been proposed by USACE.

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 to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Megan MacPherson at 907-269-7553, Megan.MacPherson@alaska.gov or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 at least 3 days before the expiration/closure date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.