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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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