Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: August 5, 2026                         PN Reference Number: POA 2024-00193 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: September 4, 2026                           Waterway: Mendenhall River

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) the 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 2024-00193 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Bicknell Inc, David Blommer, 2275 Brandy Lane, Juneau, AK 99801, (907) 789-5727; dblommer@bicknellinc.com

Agent: RESPEC, Natalie Wagner, 2700 Gambell St. Suite 500, Anchorage, AK 99503; (907) 931-6715; natalie.wagner@respec.com.

Project Name: Juneau Lot 2A-1 – Lot 2A-1, 2101 Industrial Blvd.

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 04/06/2026 to 10/22/2026

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 36, T. 40S, R. 65E, Copper River Meridian, in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 58.362500, -134.60528.

Purpose: This project aims to develop a much-needed industrial property within the City and Borough of Juneau. Juneau has had a historically limited supply of this type of space available. The proposed site is located in an established industrial subdivision, strategically positioned away from residential zones to minimize community impact and ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses. Proposed development of this property will provide essential infrastructure for boat storage, contractor storage, business warehouse space, and outdoor contractor equipment storage.  There is a community need in Juneau to provide developed industrial zoned property to support these types of buildings to support the services that they provide to the community and Southeast Alaska.

Description of Proposed Work: This project aims to develop currently unimproved industrial property within the City and Borough of Juneau, adding essential infrastructure for boat storage, contractor storage, business warehouse space, and outdoor contractor equipment storage. To support the functionality and sustainability of the site, stormwater drains and catch basins are proposed. Approximately 6.26 acres (272,686 square feet) of wetland property would be covered with Geotech fabric as needed and impacted by this fill placement. Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of shot rock or pit run, to add about 2.5 feet of elevation, would be placed in delineated wetlands. 

The project also incorporates a will consist of a 35-foot conservation easement on the southern area of Lot 2A-1 parcel (see COE drawings). The easement shall be dedicated solely for drainage purposes and shall remain undisturbed, with no grading, construction, or vegetation removal permitted within its bounds.

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: The primary method of avoidance took place during selection of this development concept and location. The project is located on terrain that is fairly flat with gentle slopes to the south. The property was subdivided as part of the Industrial Boulevard subdivision with the intent of industrial development, as the subdivision name suggests. The land tract contains moderate-value wetlands with pockets of uplands, with intermittent drainage channels going through the property from manmade developments (boat condos, Industrial Boulevard roadway ditches). The southern portion of the lot will be excluded from this development project, and the existing drainage channels to this area will enable the area to maintain hydraulic functionality around the site.

   The wetlands closest to the slough and lower in elevation are avoided for development in this project proposal. The lot is 9.3 acres, and over 2.5 acres of non-tidal wetlands are excluded from development. Included in the avoided impacts is the creation of a conservation easement for 0.26 acres for the existing slough, which will be restricted and excluded from development.  The remaining area of the lot to be developed also includes 0.2 acres of upland areas.   

   Small existing seasonal drainage patterns exist on the site. The drainages are from uplands development or roadside ditches and are not in the State of Alaska Anadromous Waterways catalogue. All water will be channeled to the existing slough to maintain natural water flow of the water leaving the property. 

   Slough protection, providing water filtration and undisrupted vegetation along the southern portion, will provide consistent bird habitat with a conservation area around the slough. The site will be approached to maintain continuity with year-round flow with navigable waterways.

2. Minimization: One method of minimization by the applicant is through the project site plan layout. The overall size of the parcel is 9.3 acres, of which 6.26 acres of wetlands are proposed to be developed. The proposed building footprints have been designed as two-story structures to minimize/consolidate the building footprint impacts. The lot contains wetlands on its south side that will not be impacted by the development. Existing drainages will be restored and rerouted around the site to maintain their hydraulic functions.

   The project will keep the existing grade of the land, as well as the drainage to the slough. As part of the development, stormwater capture basins are incorporated as well as treatment with oil-water separators to allow for water to continue to support the non-tidal wetlands of the slough.

   During fill placement operations, sediment and erosion control devices will be installed to prevent migration of any suspended sediment or turbid water leaving the project site. Surface stormwater from uplands development and roadside ditches infiltrates the ground surface and drains on the surface to the south, east, and west of the project site. Impacts to waters of the U.S. will also be minimized through usage of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The use of a SWPPP will require best management practices to further minimize impacts to nearby wetlands. 

   The project site is proposed to be filled with clean material from local upland sand, gravel, and rock resources. No adverse impacts to water quality would be expected from these fill sources. There are no cataloged fish streams identified on the project site.

   The proposed development of this property will provide essential infrastructure for boat storage, contractor storage, business warehouse space, and outdoor contractor equipment storage. To support the functionality and sustainability of the site, stormwater drains and catch basins are proposed. Approximately 6.26 acres (approximately 272,690 square feet) of wetland property would be covered with Geotech fabric as needed and impacted by this fill placement. Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of shot rock or pit run, to add about 2.5 feet of elevation, would be placed in delineated wetlands. 

   Aside from minimizing the project footprint, impacts are minimized through site selection. The streams that exist on the property exist because a series of man-made ditches from the northern boat condominium development and Industrial Boulevard roadway drainages discharge onto this property. In addition, this land tract already has road access via Industrial Boulevard to the site, reducing the impact from construction of new roads and utilities.

3. Mitigation: Compensatory mitigation is proposed as part of this project through enhancement of aquatic sites, as well as the establishment of an easement buffer around the existing slough. The project proposes to enhance the existing non-tidal wetland on the lot. The upland area of the lot sees considerable stormwater from the industrial sites that are developed around it. Mitigation will also consist of a 35-foot drainage easement on the southern area of Lot 2A-1 parcel (see COE drawings). The easement shall be dedicated solely for drainage purposes and shall remain undisturbed, with no grading, construction, or vegetation removal permitted within its bounds.

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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