Authority for Phase III 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 of APDES was implemented upon EPA's program approval and includes permitting of domestic discharges, seafood processing facilities, hatcheries, and timber facilities.

APDES Phase II, which occurred on October 31, 2009, includes:

• 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 discherges to publicly owned treatment works); and
• storm water program

APDES Phase III started on October 31, 2010, when DEC assumed authority for mine wastewater discharge permitting, including individual hard rock mines and general permits for placer mining.

Existing EPA permits for Phase III facilities and activities transfered 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, see the Wastewater Dischage Authorization Program website.