State Applies For Water Permitting Program

It is difficult to determine what the outcome would mean for local industries if the program is approved. Photo courtesy the AP.

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by Jamey Kirk

Story Created: Jul 16, 2008 at 12:38 PM AKST

Story Updated: Oct 12, 2010 at 4:06 PM AKST

Looking to gain some more independence from the federal government, the state has applied for the authority to run and maintain it's own waste water permit program. Currently the Environmental Protection Agency delegates the state's permits.

Five states including, Alaska, have not taken on the responsibility to issue permits on their own, as granted by the federal Clean Water Act.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program handles the issuing of permits to municipal and industrial facilities that discharge water into U.S. waters.

Instead of the EPA running the entire program, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation would handle the permit process with oversight from the EPA. If approved the program would be phased in over a three-year period.

The decision will be made final by November 1.
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