NOTICE OF INFORMAL COMMENT PERIOD & PUBLIC HEARING ON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS (18 AAC 15, 18 AAC 95)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is opening an informal comment period to gather public input on DEC’s administrative regulations, found in 18 AAC 15 (Administrative Procedures) and 18 AAC 95 (Administrative Enforcement).

POSTING: The full set of DEC’s Administrative Procedures regulations (18 AAC 15) is available at the BASIS website at https://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#18.15. The full set of Administrative Enforcement regulations (18 AAC 95) is available at https://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#18.95.  

COMMENTS: DEC is requesting comments on all sections of 18 AAC 15 and 18 AAC 95. 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 DEC’s administrative regulations:

• 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 by no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 17, 2025.

TO COMMENT:

• You may submit written comments:
  • by email to jessalynn.rintala@alaska.gov;
  • electronically on the Electronic Comment Submission page;
  • via mail to Jessalynn Rintala, Department of Environmental Conservation, P.O. Box 111800, Juneau, Alaska 99811-1800.
• You may submit oral comments during the telephonic hearing to be held October 15, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. You may participate by phone by calling 907-202-7104 and using code 291 974 248#. 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 1:30 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 Jessalynn Rintala at Jessalynn.rintala@alaska.gov or 907-465-5061 by 5:00 p.m. by October 3, 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.