Authority of Phase II Facilities Tranfers to DEC

On October 31, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally approved Alaska’s application to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. The approved state program is called the Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) Program. The transfer of full program responsibilities is a four-phase process that will be completed on October 31, 2011.

Phase I, authority transferred to DEC on October 31, 2008:

    • domestic discharges;
    • seafood processing facilities;
    • fish hatcheries; and
    • timber facilities

Phase II, authority transferred to DEC on October 31, 2009:

    • discharges from federal facilities;
    • miscellaneous discharges (e.g. utilities, ship and dry dock, filter backwash,
      transportation, and seawater treatment);
    • pretreatment program (for industrial and commercial discharges to publicly owned
      treatment works); and
    • storm water program

Phase III, authority transferred to DEC on October 31, 2010

    • discharges from mining activities, including individual hard rock mines and
      placer mining general permits

Existing EPA permits for Phase III facilities and activities transferred to DEC on October 31, 2010. Transferred permits will remain in effect (along with the state certifications) until DEC issues an APDES permit to replace the EPA-issued permit.

For more information about the APDES Program, including staff contacts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) see the Wastewater Dischage Authorization Program website.