NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO

ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION REGULATIONS

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 18, Chapter 50 of the Alaska Administrative Code to: 1) update adoption by reference of revised Standard Conditions for permits; 2) add a new Standard Condition; 3) adopt language to allow the use of Standard Conditions in Minor Source Permits; 4) propose changes the In Situ Burning Guidelines for Alaska; and 5) update the adoption by reference date of revised documents, including the Performance Audits for COMS (Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems), and the In Situ Burning Guidelines for Alaska.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying and alternative practical methods of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Rebecca Smith, Environmental Program Specialist, Air Permit Program, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, 410 Willoughby Avenue Suite 303, Juneau, Alaska 99801, by facsimile at: (907) 465-5129, or by e-mail to the Air Quality Comments Docket at dec.aq.airdocket@alaska.gov. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., on May 28, 2008. Comments received after this date will not be considered in final action on these rules.

The Department will hold a public hearing on this proposal on May 22, 2008, from 3:00 – 4:30 pm at the DEC first floor Conference Room, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage. Oral or written comment may be submitted at the hearing. The hearing will be extended if necessary to accommodate those present before 3:30 pm who did not have an opportunity to comment. If you will not be able to attend the public hearing in person, please contact Rebecca Smith at (907) 465-5121 by May 19, 2008, to make arrangements to participate by phone. 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 within 30 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

Please refer to the Standard Conditions Discussion document on the Air Quality webpage at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/air/ap/regulati.htm for additional information about the proposed changes.

For a copy of the proposed regulation changes and a discussion of the rationale for the changes, contact Rebecca Smith, Air Permit Program, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, 410 Willoughby Avenue Suite 303, Juneau, Alaska, 99801; by phone at (907) 465-5121; by facsimile at (907) 465-5129; or you can go to the department’s webpage at: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/air/ap/regulati.htm

After the public comment period ends on May 28, 2008, DEC will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory Authority: AS 46.14.010, AS 46.14.020, AS 46.14.030, AS 46.14.140

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 46.03.020, AS 46.14.010, AS 46.14.020, AS 46.14.030, AS 46.14.120, AS 46.14.140, AS 46.14.180

Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

/s/
Dated: April 21, 2008 Larry Hartig, Commissioner
Juneau, Alaska