Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: February 19, 2026              PN Reference Number: POA-2008-00175 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: March 23, 2026                                          Waterway: Cook Inlet

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-2008-00175 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Alaska DOT&PF Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Jennifer Lomardo, P.O. Box 196960, Anchorage, AK 99519, (907) 266-2731; jennifer.lombardo@alaska.gov

Agent: Restoration Science & Engineering, LLC, Lucus Gamble, 911 West 8th Avenue, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501; (907) 278-1023; lgamble@restorsci.com.

Project Name: Postmark Bog Snow Dump – ANC PFAS Remediation

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 11/01/2025 to 07/30/2026

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 28, T. 13N, R. 4W, Seward Meridian, in Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 61.183302, -149.99271.

Purpose: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) stated purpose is to remediate Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFOS/PFOA), which have been found in the Postmark Bog and improve water quality at the Anchorage Airport Snow Disposal Facility by making improvements to the storm drain inlets before it enters the stormwater drainage within the Postmark Bog at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.  This known source of PFOS/PFOA compounds is due to past fire training exercises at the ANC Fire Training Facility.

Description of Proposed Work: The applicant is requesting authorization for the replacement of stormwater drainage infrastructure and the installation of an activated carbon water treatment system, resulting in permanent impacts to 0.14 acres of wetland. Specifically, the project would include the removal of two existing, previously authorized manholes and the installation of new manholes with sluice gates. Fill placement would consist of approximately 177.8 cubic yards of coarse subbase aggregate, 36.7 cubic yards of class 1 rip rap, and 113.4 cubic yards of granular activated carbon.

Work includes excavation, sub-base backfill, new under-drain piping, contaminated soil separation liner, drainage and separation geotextile, activated carbon backfill, and rip rap as a soil erosion control. New manholes will be installed downstream of the two (2) existing manholes and contain sluice gates to close the bog off from the Postmark storm drain. All excavated material will remain on site and be added to the existing embankments.

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: Heavy equipment working in wetlands must be placed on mats, or other measures (e.g., ice roads, compacted snow, low psi ground bearing weight equipment, etc.) must be taken to prevent soil disturbances. New fill material (e.g., rip rap, activated carbon backfill, and sub-base) must be clean, free from petroleum products and toxic contaminants in toxic amounts.
2. Minimization: Reasonable precautions and controls must be used to prevent incidental and accidental discharge of petroleum products or other hazardous substances. Fuel storage and handling activities for equipment must be sited and conducted so there is no petroleum contamination of the ground, surface water runoff, or water bodies.
3. Mitigation: The DOT&PF was previously charged 12.24 debits from their Klatt Bog mitigation balance to compensate for the potential loss of 14 acres of Relative Ecological Value (REV) 1 wetlands under POA-2008-175. Prior work did not exceed the potential loss of 14 acres of REV 1 wetlands within Postmark Bog, the DOT&PF does not propose compensatory mitigation of the impacts described for this project. Moreover, the intent of this project is to protect water of the United States.

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 Kristin Mabry, kristin.mabry@alaska.gov, 1-907-334-0884; 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.

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