Under the federal Clean Water Act, a discharge of domestic or industrial wastewater into marine or fresh water requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. On October 31, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the transfer of NPDES permitting authority to DEC. Alaska is the 46th state to develop its own program for NPDES permitting and compliance and enforcement.

The Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) Program has five components:

1. APDES permitting, including developing, issuing, modifying, and reissuing the domestic and industrial wastewater permits
2. Storm Water Program, including permitting storm water discharges from construction and industrial activities, as well as permitting the storm water collected and discharged by large municipal storm sewer systems
3. Federal Facilities, including permitting discharges from federally-owned facilities, such as Department of Defense installations
4. Pretreatment Program to regulate highly toxic discharges into sewerage systems
5. Compliance and Enforcement, including monitoring compliance with permit terms and conditions and taking enforcement action when necessary

EPA’s transfer of permitting authority to DEC’s APDES Program is a phased process that will be completed on October 31, 2011. NPDES permits will be issued by EPA for Phase III discharges until October 31, 2010 and Phase IV discharges until October 31, 2012 when full authority to administer the program transfers to Alaska.

In August 2011 EPA approved DEC's request to extend Phase IV transfer for one year. See Phase IV Extension for more information.

For more information about the APDES Program, please contact the following:

General Questions about the Phasing and Transfer Schedule
Theresa Svancara
APDES Primacy Program Development Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
410 Willoughby Ave, Suite 303
P.O. Box 11800
Juneau, AK 99801-1800
Telephone: 907-465-5257
Fax Number: 907-465-5274
Email Address: theresa.svancara@alaska.gov

Domestic Wastewater Permitting
Renee Evans
Acting Wastewater Section Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-269-7568
Fax Number: 907-269-3487
Email Address: renee.evans@alaska.gov

Seafood Permitting
Shawn Stokes
Wastewater Section Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-269-7504
Fax Number: 907-269-3487
Email Address: shawn.stokes@alaska.gov

Industrial Wastewater Permitting
Renee Evans
Acting Wastewater Section Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-269-7568
Fax Number: 907-269-3487
Email Address: renee.evans@alaska.gov

Storm Water Program
Jim Rypkema
Acting Section Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-344-2288
Fax Number: 907-269-3487
Email Address: james.rypkema@alaska.gov

Pretreatment Program
Renee Evans
Acting Section Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-269-7568
Fax Number: 907-269-3487
Email Address: renee.evans@alaska.gov

Compliance and Enforcement Program
Chris Foley
Compliance and Enforcement Program Manager
Division of Water
Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: 907-269-4632
Fax Number: 907-334-2415
Email Address: chris.foley@alaska.gov