Public Notice Review Period:  September 11, 2026 through October 12, 2026

A Draft Permit and Fact Sheet are available for review. The permit, fact sheet, and related documents can be accessed at the Department’s Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program website: https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/ or contact the DEC contact/permit writer listed below for inquiries or to view documents in person at a DEC office.

DEC Contact: Marie Klingman, 610 University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99709; (907) 451-2101, marie.klingman@alaska.gov

Permit: AK0023451 – City of Fairbanks and Golden Heart Utilities, Inc. Wastewater Treatment Facility

Proposed Permit Coverage: The discharge of secondary treated domestic wastewater from the City of Fairbanks and Golden Heart Utilities Wastewater Treatment Facility. Discharge will occur at a maximum daily rate of 11.2 million gallons per day to the Tanana River at 64.798711 north latitude, 147.778219 west longitude. A mixing zone is proposed for total ammonia as nitrogen, copper, temperature, and whole effluent toxicity.

Tentative Determination: DEC has tentatively determined to reissue a wastewater discharge permit to the above-listed applicant.

Public Comments: Comments or requests are due by the close of the comment period, October 12, 2026. 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 the comments received 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 and telephone number. 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 final decision.

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.