Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: March 6, 2026              
General Permit Number: POA-2017-00227 (RGP-03)
PN Expiration Date: April 6, 2026 
Waterway: WOTUS (including jurisdictional wetlands) on U.S. Army Garrison Alaska (USAGAK) Training Lands

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 from 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, Reference Number indicated above, has been received[1] for the discharge 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 the DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ or via email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-2017-00227 (RGP-03) on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USACE, Greg Mazer, 1046 Marks Road, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703 (907) 347-9059; gregory.j.mazer@usace.army.mil

General Permit Title: Regional General Permit 03 (RGP-03) Military Training Activities

Summary of Activity to be Authorized by the General Permit: Permanent and temporary discharges of dredged and/or fill material into WOTUS, including jurisdictional wetlands, up to 2.0 acres per permit use in those HUC12 watersheds within the USAGAK Training Lands that have greater than or equal to five percent of its area covered in impervious or nearly impervious surfaces, and permanent and temporary discharges of dredged and/or fill material into WOTUS, including jurisdictional wetlands, up to 5.0 acres per permit use in those HUC12 watersheds within the USAGAK Training Lands that have less than five percent of its area covered in impervious or nearly impervious surfaces, for training and training support activities.

AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES

The purpose of placement of fill or dredged material must be for the following:

1. Training Activities and Support of Training Activities:
   1. Discharge of side cast and fill material because of training activities such as creation of trenches and foxholes, vehicle and personnel defilades, and placement of targets.
   2. Permanent discharges of dredged and/or fill material for the creation and maintenance of infrastructure that directly supports training activities. For example, target and bivouac pads, berms, access roads/trails, firing lines, utilities, material sites, and fills associated with the construction of bridges and low-water crossings.
   3. Discharge of fill material associated with land clearing for training activities. For example, using dozers, disking, and possibly hydro axing to clear a drop zone or manage the line of sight.
2. Non-training Activities:
   1. Erosion control and restoration activities. For example, placement of materials for soil stabilization and revegetation, and culverts associated with restoration of training impacts to wetlands and other aquatic resources.
   2. Discharge of fill material associated with land clearing for fire management. For example, disking to create wildfire breaks.
3. Geographic Limitations:
   1. RGP-03 only permits activities designated in Ranges, Impact Areas and Training Areas (TAs) on USAGAK Lands including Fort Wainwright excluding the Cantonment and Small Arms Complex, the Fairbanks Permafrost Station, the Fairbanks Permafrost Experimental Test Site, Tanana Flats TA, Yukon TA, Donnelly TA East, Donnelly TA West, Black Rapids TA, Whistler Creek TA, and Gerstle River TA (see Figure 1). Also included are two Land Use Agreement Areas adjacent to Donnelly TA and Fort Greely; one of these areas is owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the other is owned by the State of Alaska.
   2. Excluded areas within USAGAK lands include out-grant locations not used for the primary purpose of warfare training, the Fort Wainwright Small Arms Complex and Cantonment Area, and those areas with mixed land use not specifically designated as Ranges, Impact Areas, or TAs.
   3. Designated Special Aquatic Areas are also excluded from the use of this permit based on their local significance within their watersheds.
4. Maximum Acreage Limitations: RGP-03 authorizes permanent and temporary discharges of dredged and/or fill material into WOTUS, including jurisdictional wetlands, for single and complete projects up to two (2.0) acres in those HUC12 watersheds known to have greater than or equal to five percent of its area covered in impervious or nearly impervious surfaces (e.g., gravel roads and lots). For those HUC12 watersheds that have less than this proportional amount of artificially created surfaces, RGP-03 authorizes permanent and temporary discharges of dredged and/or fill material into WOTUS, including wetlands for single and complete projects up to five (5.0) acres

Estimated Number of Discharges Expected to be Authorized by the General Permit Annually: 5

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. For inquiries or to request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov or call 907-269-6096.

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.