NOTICE OF INFORMAL COMMENT PERIOD
ON DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REGULATIONS
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is opening an informal comment period to gather public input on Alaska’s Division of Environmental Health (EH) regulations, found in 18 AAC 23, 18 AAC 30, 18 AAC 31, 18 AAC 32, 18 AAC 34, 18 AAC 36, 18 AAC 60, 18 AAC 62, 18 AAC 63, 18 AAC 64, 18 AAC 65, 18 AAC 66, 18 AAC 80, 18 AAC 85, 18 AAC 87, and 18 AAC 90.
Alaska’s environmental health regulations set statewide rules to ensure environmental protection, safe food, and safe drinking water.
POSTING: PDF versions of EH regulations are available on the DEC website at https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/regulations/.
COMMENTS: DEC is requesting comments on all sections of 18 AAC 23, 18 AAC 30, 18 AAC 31, 18 AAC 32, 18 AAC 34, 18 AAC 36, 18 AAC 60, 18 AAC 62, 18 AAC 63, 18 AAC 64, 18 AAC 65, 18 AAC 66, 18 AAC 80, 18 AAC 85, 18 AAC 87, and 18 AAC 90. We want to know which regulations could be improved or clarified, and what changes might make them easier to understand and follow. This is not a formal rulemaking process—your input will help shape future decisions about how Alaska’s environmental health rules are refined:
- Clarify existing regulatory obligations;
- Reduce costs for the public, industry, or government;
- Improve or streamline procedures, application requirements, and review processes, for example reducing the time required to apply for a license, permit, or benefit;
- Reduce administrative burdens;
- Streamline permitting procedures;
- Improve communication procedures;
- Provide greater transparency with respect to standards, decision-making, and rationales for application processing; or
- Clarify interagency roles.
ADMINSTRATIVE ORDER 360: This notice is part of Governor Dunleavy’s Administrative Order 360, which directs agencies to review regulations and identify ways to make them more transparent, more efficient, and less burdensome while continuing to protect Alaskans.
DEADLINE: Comments must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 17, 2025.
TO COMMENT:
- You may submit written comments:
- You may submit oral comments during the telephonic hearing to be held October 15, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You may participate by phone by calling 907-202-7104 and using code 682412340#. Testimony will be taken from attendees in order of call in. Prior to the start of the hearing, DEC may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary, to conclude the hearing in the time provided. The hearing may be extended for a reasonable amount of time to accommodate those present before 2:00 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment prior to that time.
- If you would like to request an in-person hearing, please contact Beth Fitzgerald at beth.fitzgerald@alaska.gov or 907-269-6066 by 4:00 p.m. on September 25, 2025, with your request. DEC will then schedule an in-person hearing within the public comment period if possible and will public notice the time and location of the in-person hearing.
Please do not include any confidential information in written or oral comments.
ADA: The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation, complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodation to participate in this public process, please get in touch with Kristin Mabry at kristin.mabry@alaska.gov or 907-334-0884. Alaska Relay/TTY/TDD users may call 800-770-8973 or dial 711.