Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification – POA-2026-00097 v1.0 Norton Sound, City of Stebbins - Stebbins Sewage Lagoon

Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification Public Notice (PN) Date : August 12, 2026 PN Reference Number : POA-2026-00097 v1.0 PN Expiration Date : September 11, 2026 Waterway : Norton Sound Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into waters of the United States, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), must also apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA and the Alaska Water Quality Standards (18 AAC 70). The scope of certification is limited to the water quality-related impacts of the activity subject to the Federal license or permit (40 CFR 121.3, 18 AAC 15.180). Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ PN Reference Number indicated above, has been received [1] for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS), including wetlands, as described below, and shown on the project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are accessible from the DEC website at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/ . To comment on the project or request a public hearing with respect to water quality, submit comments via ( preferred method ) the DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ or email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-2026-00097 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above. Applicant : City of Stebbins, John Nashoanak, PO Box 71022, Stebbins, AK 99671, (907) 934-3451; stebbinscity@yahoo.com Agent : ANTHC, Karen Brown, 4500 Diplomacy Dr Suite 454 Anchorage, AK 99508; (907) 350-0453; kmbrown@anthc.org . Project Name : Stebbins Sewage Lagoon Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end : 08/01/2026 to 12/31/2031 Location : The proposed activity is located within Section 12, T. 23S, R. 19W, Kateel River Meridian, in Nome Census Area, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 63.51389, -162.2823. Purpose : The City of Stebbins proposes to construct and operate new water and wastewater systems to address sanitation deficiencies in the community. The project will include the construction of new water supply facilities, wastewater disposal facilities, and water and sewer distribution mains. Description of Proposed Work : The City of Stebbins proposes to construct and operate new water and wastewater systems. The work includes the permanent discharge of fill material into wetlands and other waters of the U.S. to construct a new water intake, a raw water transmission line (RWTL), a sewer force main, a sewage lagoon access road, and a new sewage lagoon system. Critical sanitation deficiencies exist in the community, including the lack of ADEC-permitted drinking water, an over-capacity and failing honeybucket disposal site, and a failing septic system. Upgrades and new infrastructure will alleviate substantial potential health hazards. Total wetland impact from the proposal is 8.74 acres. Water System Components: Clear Lake Water Intake: Replacement of the existing intake with a new submersible pump system in a 12-inch HDPE casing anchored to the lake bottom (120 feet below Ordinary High Water [OHW]). Class 1 riprap (65 CY) and fill (30 CY) will be placed to protect the casing. Raw Water Transmission Line (RWTL): Divided into Alignment A (utilizing 15,000 feet of existing RWTL and 2,400 feet of new aboveground line) and Alignment B (6,450 feet of new aboveground line). Alignment B requires construction of a causeway across an unnamed pond. The causeway will be 300 feet long, 69 feet wide at the base, 23 feet wide at the top, and 11 feet tall. Raw Water Impoundment: Construction of a raw water impoundment in the existing Reindeer Gravel Pit (no wetland impacts). Wastewater System Components: Vacuum Sewer Station: Located on an existing pad with no wetland disturbance. Sewer Force Main: Approximately 830 feet of buried arctic sewer force main extension located entirely in wetlands. Sewage Lagoon Access Road : Upgrading 1,450 feet of existing road and constructing a 1,030-foot extension. The extension will be built using geotextile fabric and embankment fill. Sewage Lagoon: Construction of a new three-cell system (primary holding cell, secondary seasonal discharge cell, and a sewage solids cell for honeybucket waste) spanning approximately 7.17 acres. Applicant Proposed Mitigation : The applicant proposes the following mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to waters of the United States from activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material. Avoidance : Wetlands cannot be avoided. The project area and land surrounding the community is comprised almost entirely of wetlands. The project was designed to avoid wetland impacts to the extent practicable by choosing the shortest distance and best terrain and still provide adequate separation distance from the community to the proposed sewage lagoon system. The existing RWTL is aboveground and will be rehabilitated to provide continuing service. Additional sections of RWTL will be installed aboveground to avoid filling wetlands. The raw water impoundment will be located within an abandoned gravel pit with existing access to avoid wetland impacts. Minimization : The project boundaries will be surveyed and flagged prior to construction to avoid inadvertent encroachment on wetlands. Natural drainage patterns will be maintained along the access road using 24-inch culverts. The sewage lagoon system size was minimized to the extent practicable to provide adequate sewage disposal for the population for the next 20+ years.The existing sewage lagoon access road and existing sewer force main will be upgraded and extended to minimize wetland impacts. Overburden and excess fill material will be placed on plastic sheeting to minimize impacts to wetlands. The areas will be seeded with locally appropriate seed mix once the plastic sheeting is removed following completion of construction. The width of the causeway across the Unnamed Pond is minimized to the extend practicable to provide a stable platform for the RWTL and future Phase 5 supply and return water mains necessary to provide service to the Hillside portion of the village. Existing roads will be used to access the project area. All excess construction material will be removed from the construction site and disposed of at the permitted Stebbins Landfill. All petroleum products will be managed in accordance with state and federal regulations. Spill control equipment will be available at the staging areas and stored in all construction vehicles in case of an accidental spill or leak. Mitigation : No compensatory mitigation is proposed. The project area and community are surrounded by numerous high-quality, well-preserved wetlands. The new sewage lagoon will be fenced and gated to prevent accidental access. Construction of the sewer force main extension, access road, sewage lagoon and outfall is needed to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with the current over-capacity, failing honeybucket disposal site and seepage pits. The new raw water reservoir and extension to the RWTL are required to provide a year-round supply of potable water to the community. After reviewing the application, the Department will evaluate whether the activity will comply with applicable water quality requirements (any limitation, standard, or other requirement under sections 301, 302, 306, and 307 of the CWA, any Federal and state laws or regulations implementing those sections, and any other water quality-related requirement of state law). The Department may certify (or certify with conditions) with reasonable assurance the activity and any discharge that might result will comply with water quality requirements. The Department also may deny or waive certification. The permit application and associated documents are available for review. To inquire about or request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov or call 907-269-6285. Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice: The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation, complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodation to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Kristin Mabry, kristin.mabry@alaska.gov , 1-907-334-0884; or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 at least 3 days before the expiration/closure date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. ------------------------- cc: (with encl.) Karen Brown Stephen Moore, USACE Audra Brase, ADF&G USFWS Field Office Fairbanks Matthew LaCroix, EPA AK Operations Harper, Kate J (DNR) regpagemaster@usace.army.mil [1] Reference submission number: HQP-X77D-44N4H; Received: 8/11/2026 9:46:19 AM Attachments, History, Details Attachments 1. Water Quality Certification Request-1.pdf 2. Drawings.pdf 3. Additional Information.pdf 4. USACE Public Notice.pdf Revision History Created 8/12/2026 2:20:21 PM by jfrintala

• 2. Drawings.pdf

  Not yet available
• 3. Additional Information.pdf

  Not yet available
• 4. USACE Public Notice.pdf

  Not yet available
• 1. Water Quality Certification Request-1.pdf

  Not yet available

• Contact
  dec-401cert@alaska.gov