Alaska State Overview
The Alaska Storm Water Steering Committee (ASWSC) is comprised of eight members:
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Alaska Railroad Corporation
Associated Builders and Contractors Alaska
Associated General Contractors of Alaska
Municipality of Anchorage
U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska
The ASWSC has developed a storm water training program "Alaska Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead" (AK-CESCL) to enhance compliance with the requirements of the Construction General Permit. While DEC is active in development and implementation of the AK-CESCL training program it is currently not a DEC requirement that an AK-CESCL trained person be on-site during construction. However, it is a contract requirement of some of the ASWSC organizations that an AK-CESCL trained person be on-site during construction of their projects.
Stormwater runoff (discharge) from Alaskan construction sites is regulated under section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Section 402 outlines the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation (Alaska DEC) governs stormwater and non stormwater related discharges under The Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) permitting program. The APDES General Permit or what is known as the Alaska Construction General Permit (ACGP) limits the amounts and types of substances that can be discharged into waters of the state of Alaska. The APDES General Permit also sets monitoring and reporting mandates to ensure that any discharge leaving a construction project site where (1) land disturbing activities equal to or greater than one (1) acre; and (2) construction activities involving less than one (1) acre and which is part of a common plan of development or sale equal to or greater than one (1) acre will not jeopardize Water Quality Standards (WQS) and/or human health.
The rules and regulations associated with the Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Discharges from Large and Small Construction Activities is intended to protect the natural water resources of the State of Alaska. These regulations are vital to Alaska’s effort to protect and improve water quality within the state. These important regulations were framed in accordance with the Clean Water Act as amended by the Water Quality Act and issued under provisions of Alaska Statutes, the Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) as amended, and other State laws and regulations.
To learn more about stormwater management check out the Stormwater Management section of this website and enroll in one of our online certificate programs.
