EPA Approves State's NPDES Program Application!

On October 31, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the State of Alaska’s application to take over issuing and enforcing permits for wastewater discharges issued under the Clean Water Act.

• Governor's Press Release (PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• EPA Approval Letter (PDF)
• June 18, 2008 - Public Notice (PDF)
• EPA Press Release (PDF)
• EPA's Response to Public Comments Received (PDF)
• EPA Federal Register Notice, November 7, 2008 - Program Approval (PDF)
• Schedule to Transfer Authority

Wastewater discharge permits are issued to municipal sewage treatment plants, to seafood processors, and to industrial facilities, such as mines and certain oil and gas facilities. Until now, permits in Alaska were issued by the federal EPA. With this approval, Alaska joins the forty-five other states that run their own state permitting programs. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) will issue and enforce the permits.  EPA will assume an oversight role.

EPA approval triggers a three-year transition from federal to state control of the program. During the transition period, responsibility for developing and enforcing different types of permits is handed off from EPA to DEC.  The transition will be complete by November 2011.