Water Quality Standards

Conference on Antidegradation Policy:

On December 2 and 3, 2009, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation hosted a conference on Alaska's Water Quality Antidegradation Policy at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in Anchorage, AK. The purpose of the conference was to inform policy makers, wastewater discharge permittees, permit writers and interested public regarding options for implementing procedures. The Antidegradation Policy is part of the Alaska Water Quality Standards in 18 AAC 70 which protects Alaska's waters from pollution. This conference was informational only and no regulations were proposed.

Conference Objectives:

1. To share information about US EPA antidegradation policy, the pros and cons of various state approaches, lessons learned, and legal challenges and precedents.
2. To provide a forum for stakeholders to discuss the implementation programs adopted by other states and approaches that might work best in Alaska.

Agenda:

Title:	Presenter:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Welcome & Introductions	Larry Hartig, Commissioner, ADEC
State Antidegradation Policy	Jim Powell, Chief, Water Quality Standards, ADEC
Federal Antidegradation Policy	Bill Beckwith, EPA R10
Key Antidegradation Concepts & Current Policy Issues	Jerry Diamond and Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Antidegradation - The Law	Cam Leonard, Assistant Attorney General, Alaska Department of Law
Oklahoma Water Resources Board	Derek Smithee, Chief, Water Quality Programs Division
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency	Bill Cole, Research Scientist, Water Quality Standards Unit, Environmental Analysis & Outcomes Division
Case studies in Antidegradation from South Carolina	Mike Montebello, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Case studies in Antidegradation from Kentucky	Albert Ettinger, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Chicago
Day 1 Wrap Up	Jerry Diamond and Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Review of Day 2 Agenda	Jerry Diamond and Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Key Points from State Case Studies	Jerry Diamond and Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Panel Discussion of States' Implementation Approaches	Jerry Diamond and Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Timber	Jon Tillinghast, Representing Sealaska Corporation
Stormwater	Bill Cole, Research Scientist, Minnesota
Mining Industry	Robert Napier, Environmental Coordinator Red Dog Mine, Teck
Environmental	Albert Ettinger, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Chicago
Oil & Gas	Sharmon Stambaugh, Program Manager, Waste Water Discharge Authorization, ADEC
Panel Q&A and Discussion (Stakeholders & States)	Jerry Diamond and Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Facilitated Small Group Discussions: Options for Implementing Antidegradation Policy	Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Facilitated Report Back and Full Group Discussion: Options for Implementing Antidegradation Policy	Barry Tonning, Tetra Tech
Wrap Up	Jerry Diamond, Tetra Tech; Jim Powell, Chief, Water Quality Standards, ADEC

Additional Information:

Evaluation of Options for Antidegradation Implementation Guidance - Tetra Tech, October, 2009

Agenda

Efforts to “Green” the Antidegradation Conference

Contact Carl Reese at 907-465-5018 or email him at carl.reese@alaska.gov