NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
TO APPLY PESTICIDES
Gold Creek – Broad Pass

The Alaska Railroad Corporation has applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for a permit to apply herbicide to the railroad right-of-way between Gold Creek and Broad Pass.

The following project is proposed and is being reviewed by the appropriate regulatory programs.  ADEC requests comments from the public regarding the permit application. Copies of the application are available below or upon request.

PROJECT NAME: Alaska Railroad Corporation Gold Creek-Broad Pass Pesticide Use Permit.

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on March 12, 2012. To ensure that your comments are considered in relation to this application, please include the project name at the beginning of your comment. To be considered, comments must be submitted in writing to ADEC at the following address:
Rebecca Colvin
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-7802
Fax: 907-269-7600
Email: Rebecca.Colvin@alaska.gov

PUBLIC HEARING: ADEC will also take oral testimony at a public hearing for this project on February 2, 2012, between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the North Susitna Institute, located at 22510 Talkeetna Spur Rd. in Talkeetna, Alaska.

PROJECT SUMMARY AND LOCATION: The Alaska Railroad Corporation has applied to ADEC for a pesticide use permit to apply herbicide to a 16 foot wide strip of the railroad right-of-way on 38 miles of track beginning 34 miles north of Talkeetna at Gold Creek, and proceeding north to Broad Pass.

The proposed products include Aquamaster, with EPA registration number 524-343, with active ingredient glyphosate. This product requires the use of an additive, and the Railroad proposes to use the product Agri-Dex. Aquamaster has the same active ingredient as Roundup and many other home use products, and is approved for both terrestrial and aquatic use. Treatment is proposed for summer months throughout the duration of the permit.

PROJECT NEED:  Vegetation maintenance is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirement, and is necessary to allow track visibility and inspection, prevent tripping hazards, and prevent accelerated deterioration of track components. Other vegetation control methods have not been sufficient to meet FRA and safety requirements.

PERMIT APPLICANT:
Alaska Railroad Corporation
P.O. Box 107500
Anchorage, AK 99510

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE APPLICATION CONTACT:
Karin Hendrickson
Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Program                
1700 E. Bogard Rd. #B103, Wasilla AK 99654
Phone:  (907) 376-1856
Fax: (907) 376-2382
Email:  Karin.Hendrickson@alaska.gov

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Deborah Pock at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 by the close of the public comment period to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

You will need Adobe Reader as all documents are in pdf format.

Application
Appendix 1 - Justification of Need
Appendix 2 - Overview Treatment Area Map, 11X17 Inch Version
Appendix 5-16 - Labels, MSDS, etc
Appendix 3-4 - Detailed Treatment Area Maps:

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
TO APPLY PESTICIDES
Clear-Faribanks

The Alaska Railroad Corporation has applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for a permit to apply herbicide to the railroad right-of-way in selected sections between Clear and Fairbanks.

The following project is proposed and is being reviewed by the appropriate regulatory programs.  ADEC requests comments from the public regarding the permit application. Copies of the application are available below or upon request.

PROJECT NAME: Alaska Railroad Corporation Clear-Fairbanks Pesticide Use Permit.

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on March 12, 2012. To ensure that your comments are considered in relation to this application, please include the project name at the beginning of your comment. To be considered, comments must be submitted in writing to ADEC at the following address:
Rebecca Colvin
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-7802
Fax: 907-269-7600
Email: Rebecca.Colvin@alaska.gov

PUBLIC HEARING: ADEC will also take oral testimony at a public hearing for this project on January 31, 2012, between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Westmark Hotel, located at 813 Noble Street, Fairbanks Alaska.  

PROJECT SUMMARY AND LOCATION: The Alaska Railroad Corporation has applied to ADEC for a pesticide use permit to apply herbicide to a 16 foot wide strip of the railroad right-of-way on approximately 60 miles of track beginning near Clear and proceeding north to Fairbanks.

The proposed products include Aquamaster, with EPA registration number 524-343, with active ingredient glyphosate. This product requires the use of an additive, and the Railroad proposes to use the product Agri-Dex. Aquamaster has the same active ingredient as Roundup and many other home use products, and is approved for both terrestrial and aquatic use. Treatment is proposed for summer months throughout the duration of the permit.

PROJECT NEED:  Vegetation maintenance is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirement, and is necessary to allow track visibility and inspection, prevent tripping hazards, and prevent accelerated deterioration of track components. Other vegetation control methods have not been sufficient to meet FRA and safety requirements.

PERMIT APPLICANT:
Alaska Railroad Corporation
P.O. Box 107500
Anchorage, AK 99510

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE APPLICATION CONTACT:
Karin Hendrickson
Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Program                
1700 E. Bogard Rd. #B103, Wasilla AK 99654
Phone:  (907) 376-1856
Fax: (907) 376-2382
Email:  Karin.Hendrickson@alaska.gov

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Deborah Pock at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 by the close of the public comment period to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

Application
Appendix 1 - Justification of Need
Appendix 2 - Overview Treatment Area Map Mile 390-395, 11X17 Inch Version
Appendix 2 - Overview Treatment Area Map Mile 415-468, 11X17 Inch Version
Appendix 5-16 - Labels, MSDS, etc
Appendix 3-4 - Detailed Treatment Area Maps:

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
TO APPLY PESTICIDES
DALTON AND ELLIOT HIGHWAYS

The following project is proposed and is being reviewed by the appropriate regulatory programs.  ADEC requests comments from the public regarding the permit application. A copy of the application is available below or upon request. 

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on February 28, 2012. To be considered, comments must be submitted in writing to ADEC at the following address:
Rebecca Colvin
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-7802
Fax: 907-269-7600
Email: rebecca.colvin@alaska.gov

PROJECT NAME: Dalton and Elliott Highway Pesticide Use Permit

PROJECT SUMMARY AND LOCATION: The Alaska Association of Conservation Districts has applied to ADEC for a pesticide use permit to apply herbicide to Dalton and Elliott Highway Corridors, located between mileposts 56 and 57 of the Elliott Highway and mileposts 6 and 7 of the Dalton Highway. Treatment is intended to eradicate perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), an invasive plant of concern and prohibited noxious weed in Alaska. Treatment is proposed to occur in late summer 2012 and in years 2013 through 2016 if warranted, based on the presence perennial sowthistle.

The proposed product is Opensight, with EPA registration number 62719-597, with active ingredients: Potassium salt of 2-pyridine carboxylic acid, 4-amino-3, 6-dichloro- 62.13%, and Metsulfuron methyl- 9.45%.

These products require the use of a crop oil concentrate or a nonionic surfactant. The Alaska Association of Conservation Districts proposes to use the product Agri-dex: A Crop Oil Concentrate.

In addition to the above mentioned products the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts also proposes to use Hi-Light: Industrial Strength Spray Pattern Indicator. This product used in conjunction with the pesticide /crop oil concentrate provides visual confirmation/identification of treated areas.

PROJECT NEED:  Perennial sowthistle is a perennial aster that is non-native in Alaska, grows to heights of 6 feet, and can aggressively spread through its seeds and rhizomes.  Due to its potential to negatively impact agricultural and natural lands, perennial sowthistle is listed as a prohibited noxious weed in Alaska.  While perennial sowthistle is common in the Fairbanks Region (S. Cushman Street and Vanhorn Road), it is extremely rare along the Elliott and Dalton Highways.  Targeting these infestations will result in eradication of perennial sowthistle on both highways.  As perennial sowthistle is a state listed noxious weed that is rare on both roads and can cause negative impacts to both ecological and agricultural lands, these infestations are an ideal target for management. 

PERMIT APPLICANT:  Alaska Association of Conservation Districts.

APPLICANT ADDRESS:  590 University Avenue, Suite 2, Fairbanks, AK, 99709

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE APPLICATION CONTACT:
Karin Hendrickson
Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Program                
1700 E. Bogard Rd. #B103, Wasilla AK 99654
Phone:  (907) 376-1856
Fax: (907) 376-2382
Email:  karin.hendrickson@alaska.gov

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Deborah Pock at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 by the close of the public comment period to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

Application
Appendix 1 - Justification of Need
Appendix 2 - Overview Treatment Area Maps: Elliott Hwy, Dalton Hwy
Appendix 2 - Close Up Treatment Area Maps: Version 1, Version 2
Appendix 3 - Detailed Treatment Area: Elliott Hwy, Dalton Hwy
Appendix 3 - Infestation Area Maps: Version 1, Version 2
Appendix 4 - Surface Water Maps: Elliott Hwy, Dalton Hwy
Appendix 6 - Narrative Regarding Surface Water Buffer
Appendix 7 - Labels: Opensight, Agri-Dex, Hi-Light Dye
Appendix 8 - MSDS: Opensight, Agri-Dex, Hi-Light Dye
Appendix 9 - Proof of Liability Insurance
Appendix 10 - Special Use Permit Authorization
Appendix 13 - Precautions for Humans, Animals, and Environment

*Bull Thistle is one of many invasive plants in Alaska. For more information on invasive plants, see Selected Invasive Plants of Alaska (USDA)