Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: October 22, 2026                  PN Reference Number: POA-2026-00241 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: November 20, 2026                     Waterway: Wrangell 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) 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-2026-00241 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Mazzella Alaska, LLC, Andrew Mazzella, PO Box 11463, Bozeman, MT 59719, (406) 209-1390; admazzella@gmail.com

Agent: Reid Brothers Construction, Tracey Reid, PO Box 1187, Petersburg, AK 99833; (907) 772-3755; reidbros@aptalaska.net.

Project Name: Mazzella Alaska Dock Demo & Fill

The proposed activity is planned to begin and end: 11/16/2026 to 12/15/2026

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 27, T. 58S, R. 79E, Copper River Meridian, in Petersburg Borough, Alaska. 01-007-326. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 56.812095, -132.96012.

Purpose: To establish a parking area along with a safe, stable, and long-lasting approach to the remainder of the dock and cannery site.

Description of Proposed Work: The applicant requests authorization to remove 110 feet of existing dock by removing the wooden piles completely using machinery staged on existing uplands. As the piles are pulled, 3,850 square feet of clean shot rock would be placed and contained using a 5:1 sloped armor rock wall. The fill area would measure 110 feet by 35 feet. All work would be completed during low tide within the dry.

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: This project is designed to match the existing Middle Harbor parking lot and extend it to meet the purpose of the project.
2. Minimization: The proposed fill area is the smallest footprint that will produce the stability at the entrance of the dock, while also providing parking to complete the purpose of the project.
3. Mitigation: Compensatory mitigation is accomplished through removing poisonous creosote piles and replacing them with clean native shot rock.

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.