A Draft Permit Modification, Fact Sheet and associated documents are available for review. For inquiries or to request copies of documents, contact:

Alaska DEC Contact:

Jamie Grant

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Division of Water - Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program

555 Cordova Street

Anchorage, AK 99501

(907) 269-4720

jamie.grant@alaska.gov 

Draft Permit Public Notice Period:

Public Notice Start Date:  January 14, 2016

Public Notice End Date: February 13, 2016, at 5:00 pm Alaska Daylight Time

Permit Number: AK0062278

Applicant:

ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC

Alaska LNG Project

3201 C Street; Suite 506

Anchorage, AK 99501

Proposed Permit Modifications: ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC is currently permitted to discharge geotechnical drilling fluids and drill cuttings at the seafloor (Outfall 001) and deck drainage (Outfall 002) in the Cook Inlet while conducting a geotechnical survey program (EMALL Program). The EMALL Program is being conducted to inform sound engineering decisions for the Alaska LNG Project’s proposed Cook Inlet pipeline crossing and marine terminal areas. Due to new stratigraphic information obtained from the 2015 EMALL Program, the Department has received an applicant request to modify existing Permit conditions per 18 AAC 83.135. These modifications include alterations to mixing zone size, additional fluids for increased borehole stability, materials for plug and abandonment procedures, and additional borehole locations to further evaluate geotechnical design parameters. The modifications affect certain permit conditions for Outfall 001 – Geotechnical Drilling Fluids and Drill Cuttings at the Seafloor but do not affect existing limits or monitoring requirements.

Tentative Determination: DEC has tentatively determined to modify a discharge permit to the above listed applicant due to material and substantial alterations and additions to the EMALL facility and program activities.

Public Comments: Written comments or requests for a public hearing on the APDES draft permit modification must be submitted within 30-days of the issuance of this public notice. Please direct written comments and requests to the attention of the permit writer at the address or email shown on page 1. All comments should include the name, address, and telephone number of the commenter and a concise statement of comment on the permit condition(s) and the relevant facts upon which the comment is based. Comments of either support or concern that are directed at specific, cited permit requirements are appreciated. Mailed comments and requests must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.

DEC will consider all substantive comments when making the final decision, and will respond to comments received in a Response to Comments document issued when DEC issues a final permit. The Response to Comments will be made available to the public.

Any interested person may submit a written request for apublic hearing if no hearing has already been scheduled. A request for a public hearing shall state the nature of the issues to be raised, as well as the requester's name, address and telephone number. DEC will hold a public hearing whenever DEC finds, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of public interest in a draft permit. DEC may also hold a public hearing if a hearing might clarify one or more issues involved in a permit decision or for other good reason in DEC’s discretion.

DEC will transmit the final Modified Permit, Fact Sheet (amended as appropriate), and Response to Comments to anyone who provided comments during the public review period or requested to be notified of DEC final decision.

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS OR REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING:   February 13, 2016 at 5:00p.m. Alaska Daylight Time

Administrative Record: The APDES Draft Permit Modification, Fact Sheet, permit application, and associated documents are available for public review at the DEC offices located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, and Soldotna. Please contact the office of your choice to arrange for hard copies of the documents to be available for your review.

If you would like further information or to see any additional supporting technical documents, contact the permit writer at the address shown on page 1.

The documents are also accessible from the DEC website at:

http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/wwdp/index.htm 

To receive email notifications about the APDES Program, including when permits are available to review, follow the link below to join the APDES email list.

http://dec.alaska.gov/water/npdes/npdes_email_list.htm 

Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Natalie Wolfe at (907) 269-0291 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 30-days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.