APMA 9156-GIL EXPLORATION SITE Stormwater Outfall, Fairbanks, Alaska

APMA 9156-GIL EXPLORATION SITE is a stormwater outfall located in Fairbanks, Alaska, within the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The facility is operational and serves an industrial catchment associated with gold ore mining (NAICS 212220), a sector that typically generates stormwater runoff containing sediment and potential contaminants. As a stormwater outfall in the United States, this facility operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Industrial stormwater discharges are regulated through Multi-Sector General Permits (MSGP) or individual permits, requiring implementation of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) and best management practices (BMPs) to control pollutants. The facility's location in Alaska's subarctic climate presents unique challenges, including snowmelt and permafrost dynamics affecting runoff patterns. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its potential discharge to local water bodies in the Tanana River watershed. Stormwater from mining exploration sites can carry sediment, heavy metals, and other pollutants if not properly managed. Regulatory oversight ensures compliance with water quality standards to protect aquatic ecosystems in this sensitive northern environment.

The facility is located in Fairbanks, Alaska, within the Tanana River watershed, a region characterized by subarctic climate, permafrost, and seasonal snowmelt. Stormwater runoff from industrial sites like this can carry sediment, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons into local streams and rivers, potentially impacting water quality and aquatic habitats. Regulatory oversight under the Clean Water Act aims to mitigate these risks through permit conditions and best management practices.