APDES Permitting for Wastewater Discharges from Oil and Gas Facilities and Activities in Alaska
- About
- General Permits
- Individual Permits
About the Oil and Gas Section
The Oil and Section issues state permits for wastewater disposals to land and APDES permits for wastewater discharges to Waters of the U.S. specifically for the Oil and Gas Sector based on local knowledge and conditions, receiving water characteristics, industry processes, and treatment technology in the oil and gas sector. An Operator of a facility related to Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, or Production activities seeking authorization to discharge wastewater to surface waters must apply for an APDES permit. Two types of permits are available for the oil and gas sector.
- A General Permit (GP) is issued on a state-wide, regional, or geographical basis for a category of disposal activities that are similar in nature and will comply with applicable water quality standards. A general permit application, known as a notice of intent (NOI) form, shall be submitted by the permittees that seek to obtain a discharge authorization under a general permit (see General Permit Tab).
- An Individual Permit (IP) is developed and issued for a facility that is not eligible for coverage under a general permit (see Individual Permit Tab).
| Staff Email | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Gerry Brown, P.E. | Technical Engineer II, Section Manager | 907-269-4874 |
| Bre Lambert, P.E. | Engineer II | 907-465-5171 |
| Roy Robertson, P.E. | Engineer II | 907-269-4605 |
| Amy Wockenfuss | Environmental Specialist III | 907-269-8874 |
| Nick Zeigler | Environmental Specialist III | 907-269-3051 |
General Permits
Permits are subject to public inquiry for a period of 30 calendar days. Following the close of the public notice period, DEC will conisder all substantive comments received and provide responses in a Response to Comment (RTC) document and modify the Fact Sheet and Permit, if appropriate. The RTC document and modifed Fact Sheet and Permit will be issued for a five-day applicant review prior to final issuance. The following is a detailed flowchart of the permit development and public involvement opportunities: 
(PDF)
Individual Permits
(PDF)
To receive information about APDES permit updates and public comment opportunities, Sign Up for APDES ListServ Notifications .
About the Cook Inlet GP
The Cook Inlet GP authorizes certain wastewater discharges from oil and gas exploration, production, and development facilities operating in state waters of Cook Inlet. After considerable planning and public outreach, the Cook Inlet GP was reissued in 2021 with an effectrive date of January 1, 2022
Permit Documents and Forms
- Technical Contact: Gerry Brown
- Technical Engineer II
- Phone: 907-269-4874
- Fax: 907-334-2415
- Email: Gerry.Brown@alaska.gov
About the Pipeline GP
Otherwise known as the "Pipeline GP," AKG320000 was developed to cover certain wastewater discharges from construction, operation, and maintenance activities for significant oil and gas pipelines as well as HDD operations which have the potential to discharge into freshwaters of the US in the State of Alaska. A 500-foot mixing zone for turbidity and residues from Discharges 001, 003, and 004, is available for approved mixing zone applications. Under AKG320000, a permittee may obtain an authorization for the following potential discharge sources:
- 001 Drill Fluids & Drill Cuttings
- 002 Domestic Wastewater
- 003 Gravel Pit Dewatering
- 004 Excavation Dewatering
- 005 Hydrostatic Test Water
- 006 Construction Stormwater
- 006 Industrial Stormwater
- 007 Mobile Spill Response
Permit Documents and Forms
- Technical Contact: Bre Lambert
- Engineer II
- Phone: 907-465-5171
- Fax: 907-334-2415
- Email: Bre.Lambert@alaska.gov
About the North Slope GP
Otherwise known as "The North Slope GP," AKG332000 authorizes certain wastewater discharges to marine, freshwater, and tundra environments from facilities related to oil and gas exploration, development and production in the North Slope Borough. Currently, a 200-meter radius chronic mixing zone for fecal coliform bacteria, total residual chlorine, and residues from Graywater (Discharge 002) and a 500-foot standard mixing zone for turbidity from Gravel Pit Dewatering and Excavation Dewatering (Discharges 003 and 004) may be authorized under this permit. To request discharge authorization under the permit, applicants must submit a NOI. A new eNOI process is available in the Division of Water's EDMS. Eligible facilities may apply for the following wastewater discharge authorizations:
- Discharge 002 – Graywater
- Discharge 003 – Gravel Pit Dewatering
- Discharge 004 – Excavation Dewatering
- Discharge 005 – Hydrostatic Testing
- Discharge 006 – Storm Water
- Discharge 007 – Mobile Spill Response
- Discharge 008 – Contained Water
Permit Documents and Forms
- Technical Contact: Nick Zeigler
- Environmental Program Specialist III
- Phone: 907-269-3051
- Fax: 907-269-3487
- Email: nick.zeigler@alaska.gov
- AKG332000 - General Permit (PDF)
- AKG332000 - Permit Fact Sheet (PDF)
- AKG332000 - Response to Comments (PDF)
- Current Authorizations under AKG332000
- AKG332000 eNOI Application Form
- AKG332000 Annual Report Form (PDF)
About Oil and Gas Stormwater Permitting
To learn more about who is eligible for an Oil and Gas Stormwater Exemption, read each of the following links:
About the Class I UIC Well GP
EPA is the primary justristictional authority for deep subsurface disposal through Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control Program. The Class I UIC Well GP (2021DB0002) satisfies AS 46.03.100 and AS 46.03.110 which describes State of Alaska permit and plan review requirements for disposal of non-domestic wastewater into or onto the land or groundwaters of the State. The Permit only applies applicants who have been issued a Class I UIC Permit through EPA are eligible for coverage under the Permit.
Permit Documents and Forms
- Technical Contact: Marc Bentley
- Environmental Program Specialist III
- Phone: 907-376-1853
- Fax: 907-376-2382
- Email: Marc.Bentley@alaska.gov
Note: The Oil and Gas General Permit list is not an exhaustive list of APDES general permits. Other general permits may exist that meet permittee discharge needs. However, if the applicant is within the oil and gas sector or primary business is a support facility or activity of the oil and gas sector and an oil and gas general permit can provide coverage for the requested discharge(s), then the applicant must seek authorization to discharge under the that permit. Applicants requesting authorization to discharge under a general permit must complete the required forms defined in the corresponding permit sections above. If a general permit is not an appropriate solution, then an individual permit (see tab above) may need to be considered.
Who needs an APDES Individual Permit
An APDES permit is required whenever there is a discharge of pollutants to waters of the U.S., including the ocean, lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, permafrost, and tundra. In many cases, an applicant may seek coverage under a general permit that has pre-approved limits, conditions, and a simplified application process. However, if a general permit is not available for a discharge from a particular activity or facility, or there are unique aspects to the facility that are not addressed in a general permit, an applicant may request that an individual permit be developed. Alternatively, the Department may require any entity authorized by a general permit to apply for and obtain an individual permit, or any interested person may petition the Department to take this action, see 18 AAC 83.215 (PDF) for more information.
Individual Permit Application Forms
Individual permit requests must be made by submitting APDES permit application Form 1 and one or more supplementary forms (Forms 2C, 2D, 2E) as well as the Antidegradation Form 2G. Form 2M may also be included for applicants requesting a mixing zone.
| APDES Form | Description |
|---|---|
| Form 1 (PDF) | General Application Form Must be completed by all applicants required to obtain an individual APDES permit. |
| Form 2C (PDF) | Existing Industrial Facility Supplemental Application Form Waste characterization for a permit to discharge process wastewater from existing facilities. |
| Form 2D (PDF) | New Sources & New Dischargers Supplemental Application Form Waste characterization for a permit to discharge process wastewater from new sources and discharges. |
| Form 2E (PDF) | Non-Process Wastewater Supplemental Application Form Waste characterization for a permit to discharge non-process wastewater. |
| Form 2G (PDF) | Antidegradation Analysis Form The Antidegradation Form must be completed by all applicants for APDES individual permits. |
| Form 2M (PDF) | Mixing Zone Request Form A Mixing Zone Form must be completed by any applicant requesting a mixing zone for one or more pollutants in a discharge. |
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