Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program

Camps

Types of Camps

Short-Term Camps

Short-term camps have 24 or less people and operate in the same location for 14 days or less. These camps do not require authorization or permits from the Department of Environmental Conservation, but are recommended to follow the best practices for small camps.

Small Camps

Small camps are occupied by 24 or less people and are operated in the same location for 15 or more days. These camps are generally eligible for the small camp authorization process. Examples of small camps include:

• Establishments providing shelter and support for persons engaged in commercial recreation (guided hunting, rafting, wilderness fishing, etc.)
• Establishments providing shelter and support for persons engaged in industrial activities (mining exploration, labor, construction, etc.)
• Establishments that operate for a season of each year in the same location and have a structure (such as a hunting and trapping cabin or storage shed) that is used for temporary storage, food preparation, or emergency shelter

Small camps do not include lodges or commercial enterprises with the intent of selling bed space or meals, child or adult day camps, floating camps, or barges.

Large Camps

Large camps have 25 or more people residing at the camp. Due to the size of these camps, they do not qualify for the small camp authorization process and must go through standard permitting, plan reviews, and authorizations.

Authorization and Permitting

The Department of Environmental Conservation has regulatory oversight of drinking water, food service, solid waste, and wastewater activities at camps. Requirements and authorizations of camps are determined by the size and duration of the camp's operation.

1. Small camps

• Located in a remote area for wastewater purposes: Require approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation; these camps will complete the small camp authorization process
• Not located in a remote area for wastewater purposes: Require approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation; these camps will complete the small camp authorization process, but will additionally need to submit wastewater engineering plans for review and approval

2. Large camps

Require approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation, but do not qualify for the small camp authorization due to their size; they must go through standard permitting, plan reviews, and authorizations

3. Short-term camps

Do not require approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation; operators are advised to follow the best management practices for small camps

Determining the Camp Type and Regulatory Requirements

Use the following questions to determine what type of camp is being operated and the regulatory requirements that apply to that type of camp.

Definitions

The definitions below apply only to the small camp authorization process.

Term	Definition
Caches	Structures left during the winter and used to store items for the operation of a seasonal permanent camp
Domestic wastewater	Human wastes (excrement and urine) and graywater
Federal facility	For purposes of food safety, a national park or military reservation where food service is overseen by the federal government; National forests are not considered federal facilities under these regulations and guidelines
Graywater	Wastewater from a sink, shower, bath, laundry, kitchen or other domestic source; Does not include human wastes
Human waste	Human excrement and urine
Inert waste	Solid waste that has a low potential to pollute air or water and does not normally attract wildlife; Inert waste includes scrap metal, incinerated toilet ash, burned waste ash, and non-hazardous construction and demolition waste
Potable water	Water suitable for human consumption (e.g., drinking, washing, cooking, bathing) Water that is free from disease-producing organisms, poisonous substances, and chemical, biological, and radioactive contaminants that would make it unfit for human consumption and other uses Traditionally known as drinking water
Public land manager	A local, state or federal agency who approves use of public land for a camp, including Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Camp	An establishment providing shelter and support for persons engaged in Commercial recreation (guided hunting, rafting, wilderness fishing, etc.); or Industrial activities (mining exploration, labor, construction, etc.) A camp that is occupied on a temporary basis and is not a place of "residence" A seasonal camp that Has a structure (such as a hunting and trapping cabin or storage shed) that is used for temporary storage, food preparation, or emergency shelter; and Operates for a season of each year in the same location Does not include lodges or commercial enterprises with the intent of selling bed space or meals, child or adult day camps, floating camps, or barges
Remote	An area with no year-round access to a major road system (a system of connected roads with a total length of 100 miles or more) and at least 25 road miles to the nearest community or paved highway

Regulatory References

• 18 AAC 31 Alaska Food Code
• 18 AAC 80 Drinking Water
• 18 AAC 60 Solid Waste Management
• 18 AAC 72 Wastewater Treatment and Disposal

Resources and Contacts