Public Notice Start Date: March 3, 2026                                      Expiration Date: April 2, 2026

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has tentatively determined to modify a discharge permit for the activity described below.

Permit Number & Name: AK0037303 – Trident Seafoods Akutan Plant

Permit Coverage: DEC proposes to issue an APDES modification of the AK0037303 Trident Seafoods – Akutan Facility individual permit. The permit was first issued August 30, 2023 and went into effect October 1, 2023. The proposed permit modification updates maximum flow and temperature limits for Outfall 002A and Outfall 002B as well as the mixing zone sizes for those outfalls.

Description of Discharges: The facility discharges non-contact cooling water (water used to cool the engines in the Pollock Plant powerhouse) and Pollock Plant plate and frame condenser water from Outfall 002A and discharges non-contact cooling water (water used to cool the engines in the Cod Plant powerhouse) from Outfall 002B. Since obtaining the permit in 2023, Trident has begun measuring flow and temperature from Outfall 002A and Outfall 002B instead of estimating, and the new flow and temperature limits and corresponding mixing zone sizes reflect the updated data and new associated modeling.

A Fact Sheet, and associated documents are available for review. For inquiries or to request copies of documents, contact: Anne Weaver; 907-269-7483, Anne.Weaver@alaska.gov; DEC, Div of Water/WDAP; 555 Cordova Street, AK 99501.

For office locations or to view electronic copies of the permit documents, please see the DEC website at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

Public Comments: Only the modifications of the permit (in Table 3, Table 4, Part 1.6.4, and Part 1.6.5) are open for public comment.

Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the APDES draft permit must be submitted within 30 days of the issuance of this public notice. Any person desiring to comment on the permit may submit comments electronically via the DEC public notice site (preferred) at https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/.

Alternatively, you may direct written comments and requests to the attention of the DEC contact/permit writer at the email address or postal address identified above.

All comments should include the name, address, telephone number, and email address of the commenter and a concise statement of comment on the permit condition(s) and the relevant facts upon which the comment is based. Comments of either support or concern that are directed at specific, cited permit requirements are appreciated. Mailed comments and requests must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.

DEC will consider all comments when making the final decision and will respond to received comments in a Response to Comments document issued when DEC issues a final permit. The Response to Comments will be made available to the public.

Any interested person may submit a written request for a public hearing if no hearing has already been scheduled. A request for a public hearing shall state the nature of the issues to be raised as well as the requester's name, address, telephone number, and email address. DEC will hold a public hearing whenever DEC finds, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of public interest in a draft permit. DEC may also hold a public hearing if a hearing might clarify one or more issues involved in a permit decision or for other good reason in DEC’s discretion.

DEC will transmit the final permit, fact sheet (amended as appropriate), and Response to Comments to anyone who provided comments during the public review period or requested to be notified of DEC’s final decision.

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS OR REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING
April 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. AKST

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.