Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: October 7, 2026            PN Reference Number: POA-2026-00202 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: November 6, 2026                Waterway: Tongass Narrows

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-2026-00202 v1.0, on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Petro Marine Services, Matthew Lindsey, 1813 East 1st Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501, (907) 562-5000; mattl@petro49.com

Agent: Solstice Alaska Consulting, Inc., Robin Reich, 2607 Fairbanks Street B, Anchorage, AK 99503; (907) 929-5960; solsticeak@solsticeak.com.

Project Name: Petro Marine Ketchikan Fuel Terminals Improvements Project

Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 08/01/2027 to 01/01/2028

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 30, T. 75S, R. 91E, Copper River Meridian, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.  Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 55.329109, -131.61951.

Purpose: The purpose of the project is to upgrade the existing terminal to better serve fuel delivery vessels and customers. Infrastructure has aged past its useful life, and the vessel berthing arrangement requires reconfiguration to safely accommodate all vessels in the busy waterfront area.

Description of Proposed Work: Petro Marine Services (Petro Marine) is proposing to upgrade their waterfront fuel terminal (Terminal 1) in Ketchikan, Alaska. Petro Marine supplies heating, aviation, diesel, and gasoline fuels and sells products including lubricants and fuel additives. The proposed project would replace an existing fuel float and fuel float approach dock with a breasting dolphin at Terminal 1. Terminal 1 would also undergo upgrades to its fueling station, fender system, and mooring system.

Under the proposed action, a fuel float, approach dock, and associated piles would be removed and replaced by a breasting dolphin and catwalks. The face of the existing main dock would be extended, and fender piles would be installed.

Removal of Existing Piles at Terminal 1: At Terminal 1, seventy (70) 10- to 16-in diameter timber fender piles at the main dock, forty (40) 10- to 16-in diameter timber piles at the fuel float approach dock, and eight (8) 20-in diameter steel mooring piles at the fuel float would be removed. All piles would be removed with a vibratory hammer.

Removal of Existing Float: The existing fuel float, fuel float approach dock, and gangway would be removed and transported by barge to Wrangell for reuse at Petro Marine’s facility in Wrangell Harbor. (This activity is being permitted separately.) The fuel float approach dock and gangway would be disposed of locally per regulation or barged to Seattle for disposal.

Installation and Removal of Temporary Piles: Twenty-four (24) 24-in diameter steel pipe piles would be installed to help guide the permanent piles at Terminal 1 into place. Install all temporary piles using vibratory and impact hammers, and remove them using a vibratory hammer.

Installation of Permanent Piles: To support the new configuration at Terminal 1, thirty (30) 16-in diameter steel pipe piles (to support the dock, crane, and fenders), fourteen (14) 24-in diameter steel pipe piles (for a breasting and a mooring dolphin), and ten (10) 30-in diameter steel pipe piles (for a breasting dolphin) would be installed. The eighteen (18) 16-in diameter fender piles would be vibrated and then impacted to ensure adequate resistance and soil penetration. The remaining 16-in, 24-in, and 30-in diameter permanent piles would be vibrated, impacted, and then anchored into bedrock using a DTH drill and grouted pile anchors. It is estimated that DTH drilling would produce approximately 81 cubic yards of drill spoils.

In total, all pile installation and removal activities at Terminal 1 are expected to take approximately 103 hours over approximately 120 (not necessarily consecutive) days.

Out-of-Water Activities: Three new access catwalks would be installed to connect the south breasting dolphin to the existing main dock and to the main office and warehouse. Additionally, the main dock would be extended about 10 feet, and a new ship fueling station would be added to the dock.

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: Complete avoidance of waters of the United States is not possible to meet the project purpose and need. The project would be located within Tongass Narrows along a previously disturbed shoreline.
2. Minimization: The applicant states the project uses the most compact design practicable with the least number of piles and smallest size of piles to minimize impacts to waters of the United States. The applicant states that since the project would occur in an industrial area of Ketchikan and would replace existing dock structures, impacts to the marine environment would be minimal. The project proposes adding minimal new structures to the marine environment (piles) and would replace existing marine structures. No fill would be placed; however, a minimal amount of discharge would be released during down-the-hole drilling and anchoring of some piles.
   • The project uses a design that incorporates the smallest-diameter piles practicable while still minimizing the overall number of piles.
   • Piles will be removed slowly to allow sediment to slough off near the mudline.
   • Wood that has been surface or pressure-treated with creosote or treated with pentachlorophenol will not be used. If treated wood must be used, any wood that comes in contact with water will be treated with waterborne preservatives in accordance with Best Management Practices developed by the Western Wood Preservers Institute.
   • Spill response equipment will be kept on-site during construction and operation.
   • During construction, water quality will be protected through best management practices, including Plans for avoiding, minimizing, and responding to releases of sediments, contaminants, fuels, oil, and other pollutants would be developed and implemented.
3. Mitigation: Compensatory mitigation is not proposed because no discharge into marine waters is expected for this project beyond a small amount of drill cuttings during down-the-hole activities, and the project is within a previously developed 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 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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