United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Regulations and Standards Washington, DC 20460 EPA 440/5-88-032 September 1988 State Water Quality Standards Summary: Alaska ------- ------- DISCLAIMER This publication was prepared by Battelle under contract to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Contract 68-03-3534). Secondary information sources were used to compile data presented in this document. Each State was given an opportunity to review and provide comments on a draft of this information document In no event shall either the United States or Battelle have any responsibility or liability for any use, misuse, or reliance upon the information contained herein, nor does either warrant or otherwise represent in any way the accuracy, adequacy, efficacy or applicability of the contents hereof. The reader should consult the water quality standards of a particular State for exact regulatory language applicable to that State. Copies of State water quality standards may be obtained from the State's Water Pollution Control Agency or its equivalent. Additional information may also be obtained from the: Standards Branch Criteria and Standards Division (WH-585) Office of Water Regulations and Standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 202-475-7315 This document may be obtained only from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at the following address: National Technical Information Service 5285 Front Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 703-487-4650 The NTIS order number is: PB89-141642 ------- ------- ALASKA Responsible Agency: Alaska Departient of Environmental Conservation Div. of Environ. Quality Management Pouch 0 Juneau 907-465-2640 99811 Standards Available From Alaska Dept. of Environiental Conservation Pouch 0 State Contact: Mr, Dan Easton Manager Hater Pollution Control Program Alaska Dept, of Environ. Conservation Pouch 0 Juneau ' • 99811 907-465-2653 State Contact: Juneau 907-465-2653 Fee: 99811 none Mailing List: yes State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation (a! No person tay conduct an operation which causes or contributes to a violation of the water quality standards established by this chapter. (b) The water quality standards set by this chapter apply to human activities which result in alterations to waters within the jurisdiction of the state, The water quality standards established by this chapter consti- tute the degree of degradation which may not be exceeded in a water body. (c) Waters with natural characteristics of higher quality than the water quality criteria for the uses set out in 18 AAC 70.020 Bust be kept at the existing quality, except where an applicant for a penit issued or certified under 18 AAC 15, a short-term variance issued under 18 AAC 70.015, or a reclassification granted under 18 AAC 70.055 shows to the department's satisfaction that: 1. Reducing water quality is justified because of necessary economic or social development; 2. Reducing water quality will not harm present or potential uses of the waters; and 3. All wastes and other substances to be discharged will be treated using the methods found by the department to be iost effective. (•d) Ha person may discharge or cause the discharge of any waste or substance into waters within the jurisdic- tion of the state without first treating and controlling the discharge to ensure that the quality of the Deceiving water does not violate the water quality standards set by this chapter. (e) The department will, in its discretion, issue a compliance order for activities or sources of waste or substances in existence on December 19, 1982 that cause a violation of the water quality standards set by this chapter. The cospiiance order tust provide a detailed plan to bring the activity into compliance with this section. 9 State Narrative Language For: Toxics Shall not exceed Alaska Drinking Hater Standards or EPA Quality Criteria for Hater as applciable to the substance. State Narrative Language For: Free From Petroleum hydrocarbons, oils and grease shall not cause a visible sheen upon the surface of the water. Also, they shall not exceed concentrations which individually or in combination impart odor or taste as deterained by organoleptic tests. Floating solids, debris, sludge, deposits, foaa, and scum shall not alone or in combination with other substances or wastes make water unfit or unsafe for use, cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shoreline, cause beaching of toxic or deleterious substances, or cause a sludge, solid eaulsion to be deposited beneath or upon the surface of the water within the water column on the bottom or upon adjoining shorelines. State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones (a) In applying the water quality criteria of 18 AAC 70.020, the department (Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation) will, in its discretion, prescribe its permits or certifications a volume of dilution for an AK-1 ------- ALASKA effluent or substance within a receiving Hater. Hater quality standards lay be exceeded within this fixing zone. However the standards must be let at every point outside its boundaries. The department Kill not allow sixing zones if; (1) There is significant potential for adverse environaental or health effects due to discharge of a substance that bioaccuaulates in food chains; concentrates in sediaents, or is persistent, carcinogenic, sutagenic or teratogenic, or (2) Other potential environmental or health effects are so adverse that a iixing zone is not appropriate. A aixing zone will be granted only after the applicant has shown to the departient's satisfaction that wastes or substances that say exceed the water quality criteria liaits will be treated using iethods found by the departsent to be lost effective. (b) The department will, in its discretion, establish effluent liiitation requirements in its wastwater disposal peraits in lieu of or in addition to a defined aixing zone. (c) No individual aixing zone or coibination of aixing zones will be permitted to fora a barrier to the cigratory routes of aquatic species. (d) Unless it is desonstrated to the satisfaction of the department, in accordance with (e) of this section, that the size limitations can be increased, mixing zones will be as small as practiable. (e) A person conducting an operation for which a aixing zone is sought or required by the departient shall subiit to the departaent all information necessary for assignment of a aixing zone. AK-2 ------- ALASKA Classifications Drinking, Culinary and Food Processing Fresh Kater . Agricultural Fresh Water Includes irrigation and stock watering. Aquaculture Fresh Hater Industrial Fresh Hater Contact Recreation Fresh Mater Secondary Recreation Fresh Hater Includes any Hater supply used in association tilth a sanufacturing or production enterprise (other than food processing) including lining, placer sining, energy production or development. Fish and Wildlife Fresh Water Aquaculture Marine Waters Seafood Processing Marine Waters Industrial Marine Waters Contact Recreation Marine Hater Secondary Recreation Marine Waters Fish and Wildlife Marine Waters Shellfish Harvesting Marine Haters Browth and propagation of fish, shellfish and other aquatic life, and wildlife including waterfowl and furbearers. lAbbreviated naie for this designated use. Includes any tiater supply used in association with a ianufacturing or production enterprise {other than food processing) including iining, placer lining, energy production or development. Browth and Propagation of fish, shellfish and other aquatic life, and wildlife including seabirds, waterfowl and furbearers. lAbbreviated naie for this designated use. Harvesting for consueption of raw lollusks or other aquatic life. AK-3 ------- ALASKA All Classes Drinking, Culin.. Agricultural Aquaculture Physical PH Upper Value LoHer Value Secondary Upper Liiit Dissolved Oxygen Lower Value Teiperature Upper Value Turbidity Upper Value Chlorides Upper Value Sulfates Upper Value Total Dissolved Solids Upper Value Nutrients Toxic Metals Pesticides Organics Bacteria Fecal Colifon Upper Value Secondary Upper Liait B.5 6.0 4 15 Narr. 200 200 500 sg/L C •g/L •g/L •g/L 9-0 8.5 5.0 6,5 8.5 3 ag/L 30 C 20 C Narr. narr. 1000 ig/L 1500 in Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. AK-4 ------- ALASKA Industrial Contact Recreat.. Secondary Recre.. Fish and Nildli. Physical pH Upper Value Loner Value Dissolved Oxygen . Upper Value Lower Value Teaperature Upper Value Turbidity Upper Value Total Dissolved Solids Upper Value Nutrients Toxic Metals Pesticides Organics Bacteria Fecal Colifora Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit 9.0 5.0 Narr, 25 C Narr. Narr. 8.5 6.5 •g/L 4 ig/L 30 C Narr. 9.0 5.0 •g/L 4 ig/L Narr. 9.0 6.5 17 5 20 Narr. 1500 •g/L •g/L C •g/L Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. AK-5 ------- ALASKA Aquaculture ' Seafood Process.. Industrial Contact fiecreat. Physical PH Upper Value Loner Value Dissolved Oxygen Loner Value Teiperature Upper Value Teiperature Change Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit Turbidity Upper Value Total Dissolved Solids Upper Value Nutrients Toxic Hetals Pesticides Organics Bacteria Fecal Colifon Upper Value Secondary Upper Licit 8.5 6.5 7 1 0.5 ag/L 25 NTU 1500 §g/L 8.5 6.0 15 C Narr. 9.0 5.0 25 Narr. Narr. 8,5 6.5 25 NTU Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. AK-6 ------- ALASKA Secondary Recre., Fish and Hildli.. Shellfish Harve. Physical PH Upper Value Loner Value Temperature Change Upper Value Secondary Upper Liiit Turbidity Upper Value Total Dissolved Solids Upper Value Nutrients Toxic Metals Pesticides Organics Bacteria Fecal Colifori Upper Value Secondary Upper Licit 9.0 5.0 25 KtU 8.5 6.5 1 0.5 Narr. 1500 C C •g/L 8.5 6.0 1 0.5 Narr. C C Narr. Narr. Narr. Narr. AK-7 ------- ------- |