Alaska
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Quick Summary
For most Alaska projects disturbing 1 acre or more, you need an APDES Construction General Permit, a SWPPP, and inspections by a trained person. The NOI lead time is 30 days — longer than most states.
Verified through an alternate source
The Alaska DEC website blocks automated requests to its permit pages. The page loads normally in a browser. We read the permit text from the 2026 CGP permit PDF published by Alaska DEC instead, so this page is checked against the official document on the same monthly cycle as every other state.
If you work with Alaska permits, we'd genuinely like your help. Corrections that include a link to the agency document or permit PDF can be verified on arrival and published quickly — those are the most useful thing you can send us.
Construction Permit
Permit Document ↗- Permit Name
- APDES Construction General Permit (CGP) — Permit No. AKR100000 (2026 CGP, effective February 1, 2026)
- Threshold
- ≥ 1 acre of land disturbance, or < 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale
- NOI Lead Time
- NOI must be submitted at least 30 days before the planned start of construction activity; DEC issues a written authorization letter before work may begin
- Application Method
- Online submission via the Alaska DEC APDES online permitting portal; paper NOI forms also accepted by mail
- Fee
- $50 NOI processing fee for sites disturbing < 5 acres; $100 for sites disturbing ≥ 5 acres
- Permit Expires
- January 31, 2031
SWPPP Requirements
Permit Document ↗- SWPPP Required
- Yes
- PE Cert Required
- No
- Template Available
- Yes
Inspection Requirements
Permit Document ↗- Frequency
- At least every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of a precipitation or snowmelt event that results in a discharge from the site; during frozen ground conditions, inspections may be reduced to monthly if the site is fully stabilized
- Rain Trigger
- Within 24 hours of any precipitation or snowmelt event that results in a discharge from the site (no fixed inch threshold — discharge-based trigger)
- Inspector Qualification
- A knowledgeable person familiar with the SWPPP must conduct inspections. Alaska does not require a state-specific inspector certification, but the person must understand construction stormwater BMPs. Many operators voluntarily use EPA's Developing Your SWPPP training.
- Accepted Certifications
- No state-specific cert required; EPA CGP requires 'qualified personnel' knowledgeable in E&SC; CPESC, CESSWI, CISEC accepted
Discharge Standards
Permit Document ↗- Turbidity Limit
- No numeric NTU limit in the CGP; narrative water quality standard applies
Post-Construction
DEC ↗- Required
- Yes
Impaired Waterbody / TMDL Requirements
Standard ProvisionsAlaska is EPA-administered (not delegated); federal CGP provisions apply. Construction activity is limited relative to other states; no state-specific TMDL permit conditions beyond federal CGP baseline. Projects near protected fishery waters should verify with EPA Region 10.
Program Contact
Contact Page ↗- Contact
- Teri Buck — Construction General Permit Coordinator
- Phone
- (907) 334-2281
State-Specific Notes
Alaska administers its own NPDES-equivalent program called APDES (Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System). The 30-day NOI lead time is longer than most states. The 30-day review window reflects DEC's need to coordinate with Alaska Department of Fish and Game on anadromous waterway impacts, which is a major quirk unique to Alaska. Operators working near salmon streams should plan for potential additional permit conditions or requirements from ADF&G under AS 16.05.871.