00                             SENATE BILL NO. 326                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to evaluating state assumption of the wastewater discharge program                                     
02 under the federal Clean Water Act; and providing for an effective date."                                                
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                         
05 to read:                                                                                                                
06       FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.  The Department of Environmental Conservation has                                           
07 proposed assuming the national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit                                    
08 system program for Alaska under 33 U.S.C. 1342 from the United States Environmental                                     
09 Protection Agency.  The department is directed to evaluate the potential benefits and                                   
10 consequences of assuming the NPDES permit system program for Alaska.                                                    
11    * Sec. 2.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
12 read:                                                                                                                   
13       PLAN FOR NPDES PERMITTING BY STATE.  (a) The Department of                                                        
14 Environmental Conservation shall develop an implementation plan for the assumption of                                   
01 primary NPDES permitting by the state, including                                                                        
02            (1)  statutory and regulatory changes;                                                                       
03            (2)  procedures for issuing permits;                                                                         
04            (3)  modifications of permit requirements for Alaska conditions;                                             
05            (4)  procedures for conflict resolution with the United States Environmental                                 
06 Protection Agency;                                                                                                      
07            (5)  a statement of the cost of assuming primary NPDES permitting;                                           
08            (6)  a statement of sources of federal funding available.                                                    
09       (b)  The draft plan shall be submitted to relevant interest groups and the public for                             
10 review and comment before the Department of Environmental Conservation adopts a final                                   
11 plan.  The draft plan shall be submitted to the legislature for review and comment.  The final                          
12 plan shall be submitted to the legislature on the first day of the First Regular Session of the                         
13 Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature.                                                                                  
14 * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).