Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification
Public Notice (PN) Date: May 6, 2026 PN Reference Number: POA-2026-00131 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: June 5, 2026 Waterway: Village Creek
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-2026-00131 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.
Applicant: Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AVEC), William Stamm, 4831 Eagle Street, Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 561-1818; bstamm@avec.org
Project Name: Wales Community Bulk Fuel and Power Plant Upgrades
Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 06/01/2026 to 06/01/2028
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 32, T. 3N, R. 45W, Kateel River Meridian, in Nome Census Area, Alaska. n/a. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 65.611146, -168.09088.
Purpose: The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC), as the power provider in Wales, Alaska, was selected to receive the EPA funds to design and construct new tank farms and decommission old tank farms. New tank farms would be located farther from the coastline to reduce the risk of physical and environmental damage from storm surges that threaten the community. New tank farms would be constructed on an elevated gravel pad, and old tanks would be removed and cut up for reuse or disposal.
Additionally, this project would construct a new power plant on a new site adjacent to the new AVEC and City tank farms, on the same newly constructed, elevated gravel pad. The old power plant would be decommissioned.
Specifically, the project would:
- Construct new bulk fuel storage facilities to replace deteriorating and non-compliant infrastructure.
- Construct a new power plant facility to ensure long-term energy reliability and reduce the risk of catastrophic failure due to coastal storm events.
The Proposed Action is needed to address immediate and long-term threats to critical community infrastructure caused by severe coastal erosion, increasing storm intensity, and flooding associated with strong Bering Sea storm systems.
Construction of new, relocated, elevated, code-compliant bulk fuel tank farms would reduce environmental risk by improving spill prevention and providing protection from flooding and storm surge. Construction of a new modular power plant equipped with modern generators and switchgear would significantly improve system reliability, reduce outage frequency, and ensure continued electric service for the community.
This project estimates that 20,200 cy of gravel fill will be placed in 1.99 acres of wetlands.
Description of Proposed Work: The proposed project would replace the existing Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC), and City of Wales tank farms with new, code-compliant facilities. The proposed project would also install a new modular power plant at a new location adjacent to the new AVEC and City tank farms. The existing tank farms and power plant would be decommissioned.
A new, elevated gravel pad would be constructed along Airport Landfill Junction Road to support the new AVEC tank farm, the new City tank farm, the new power plant, storage connexes, and a laydown yard. The elevation at the project site is from 8 to 10 feet above sea level. The gravel pad would be constructed to an elevation of 17 feet to provide flood and storm protection and to insulate the ground to reduce the thaw rate of the underlying permafrost.
AVEC Tank Farm: The new AVEC tank farm would consist of four new 30,000-gallon, horizontal, single-walled, above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) installed within a lined earthen dike containment area.
City Tank Farm: The new City tank farm would contain three new, 30,000-gallon, single-walled horizontal ASTs (two for diesel and one for gasoline), and a 5,000-gallon dual product protected dispensing tank installed within a lined earthen dike containment area. The new tank farm would include retail fuel dispensing facilities, including a dual-product (diesel and gasoline) retail dispenser and a bulk transfer diesel hose reel, and a new spill response connex. The City would operate the new tank farm for community retail fuel sales.
Fuel Fill Pipelines: To fill the AVEC and City tank farms, separate above-ground pipelines would extend from the tank farm, past the water treatment plant, to a barge header located near the shoreline north of Village Creek. The AVEC tanks would be filled via a 4-inch (diesel) welded steel pipeline, and City tanks would be filled by one 3-inch (gasoline) and one 4-inch (diesel) welded steel pipeline. The pipelines would run together to the barge header supported by treated timber sleepers (6 inch by 6 inch by 4 feet) placed every 10 feet.
AVEC Power Plant: The new power plant would include a steel frame, a 56-foot by 18-foot modular power plant building with two generator bays, a day tank room, and a control room. Generator Bay A would house a single 363-kilowatt (kW) generator, and Generator Bay B would house two 236 kW generators. Each generator would be equipped with exhaust piping vented to the exterior. Each generator would be equipped with a marine manifold. The marine manifold would capture and transfer engine heat to the cooling system, where it can be circulated to a future heat recovery system that would serve nearby community buildings.
The day tank room would house a day fuel tank, oil hopper, and battery bank, and the control room would contain electric control panels, breakers, and feeders. Exterior egress would be provided from both the control room and generator bays. The rectangular modular structure would be constructed off-site and transported to Wales for installation. The building would be placed on piles supported by concrete blocks on a gravel pad. A sloped metal roof on timber trusses with snow fences would be installed above the modular structure.
Bulk Fuel AST Specifications: The new 30,000-gallon ASTs will be shop-built, single-wall, horizontal, welded steel tanks labeled in accordance with UL 142 and equipped with steel saddles and skid foundations. This project is part of a family of tank farm projects funded under similar grant conditions. Utilizing a standard tank size, to the extent possible, reduces procurement and transportation costs. Heavy steel skids and saddles facilitate the movement of the tanks via barge, forklift, crane, or excavator. Saddles elevate the tanks, allowing for inspection and recoating of the underside as necessary.
The new 5,000-gallon dispensing tank at the City tank farm would be a shop-built, double-wall, protected, dual-product, horizontal, welded steel tank, built and labeled in accordance with UL 2085 and equipped with steel saddles and skid foundations.
All new tanks would be equipped with level gauges, pressure/vacuum whistle vents, emergency vents, manholes, water draws, fill/withdrawal connections, and all required electrical and overfill prevention systems.
Security and Safety: Each tank farm would be enclosed by a gated eight-foot-tall chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Overhead lighting would provide security and safety. Dispensers and bulk transfer hose reels would be housed inside lockable enclosures. All valves would be provided with lockable handles to reduce theft and vandalism. Pump controls would be installed within fenced security areas. Area lighting would be provided at the dispensers, pump controls, and tanks for security, spill detection, and winter operation.
CONSTRUCTION METHODS
Transport of Materials and Equipment: An existing Wales Native Corporation-owned, permitted material site located 3.5 miles north of the community would be used for fill. Material would be hauled directly from the material site via an existing road and placed within the pad footprint without an additional stockpile area. Locally unavailable materials, such as select gravel and rock for use in dike walls, for making concrete, and for topping driving and walking surfaces, as well as construction materials, would be imported by barge. Large shipments would land at Tin City, and materials would be transported 6.5 miles via an existing road to the project site. Personnel, tools, miscellaneous supplies, and smaller materials may be flown directly to Wales by small aircraft.
Construction of Gravel Pad: Geotextile fabric would be placed directly on in-situ soils before fill is placed. All fill would be placed using articulating haul (dump) trucks and positioned with excavators, loaders, and dozers. A layer of 4-inch-thick foam board would be placed within the pad to help retain the permafrost. A roller compactor may be used once fill is placed to stabilize the area.
Construction of Fuel Pipelines, Lighting, Power Poles, and Other Supporting Infrastructure: Fuel pipelines would be supported by 70 above-grade timber sleepers. On-site lighting platforms would be constructed within the new fill on the gravel pad. New 18-inch corrugated metal pipe driveway culverts would be installed within the new fill pads at driveway entrances to maintain water flow. New or replacement overhead electrical poles may be constructed along a small section of Airport Landfill Junction Road east of the new gravel pad supporting the AVEC and City tank farms and power plant.
Construction of the new tank farm and power plant gravel fill pads is planned for the summer of 2026. Construction of the bulk fuel farm facilities, including lighting, pipelines, fencing, and placement of tanks, is anticipated to occur in 2027. Construction of the power plant is anticipated to occur in 2027.
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.
Plans for avoiding, minimizing, and responding to releases of sediments, contaminants, fuels, oil, and other pollutants will be developed and implemented. Spill response equipment will be kept on-site during construction and operation.
- Avoidance: Suitable, available land within the community is limited. Nearly the entire community is located within wetlands that are surrounded by either the Bering Sea or steep hillside slopes. In order to avoid historic and cultural sites and locate new facilities within or adjacent to the community, and some distance from the Bering Sea, avoiding wetlands is not practicable. The pad is sited to avoid placing fill in adjacent, seasonally flooded (classified as PEM1/SS1C) wetlands.
- Minimization: The project uses the most compact design practicable to minimize impacts to jurisdictional wetlands. To minimize impacts, one pad will support three facilities: the AVEC and City bulk fuel tanks and the power plant.
- Mitigation: The applicant is not proposing compensatory mitigation due to the high proportion of wetlands in the region, and restoring, enhancing, and establishing wetlands for compensatory mitigation is not practicable given the abundance of existing wetlands and the logistical and technical limitations in the area.
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 that 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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