The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently delegated its authority under the Clean Water Act to the State of Alaska. EPA will hand off wastewater discharge permitting authority and enforcement in Alaska to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Stormwater permitting program responsibility will not be immediately transferred to DEC. Existing dischargers will remain under the US EPA Multi-sector General Permit ("MSGP-2008"), finalized in September 2008. Over the next three years, Alaska DEC will take over the stormwater permitting program, and will issue their own permits for industrial, MS4 and construction site stormwater discharge.
Alaska joins 45 other states that oversee their own National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Delegated States can write their own standards, but they can not be any less strict than federal standards.
In November 2008, DEC took control over wastewater discharge permits for timber harvesting, seafood processing and municipal dischargers. Existing permits from the EPA will turn into state permits. Over the next three years, in phases, the State will take over permitting of Federal facilities in Alaska, stormwater, mining, and finally oil and gas permits, cooling water and other minor permitting programs.
Caltha LLP assists clients in meeting State and Federal NPDES permit and compliance requirements. For more information on Stormwater Permits and Compliance, go to Stormwater and SWPPP website.
For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
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Caltha LLP Website
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