Overview
KETCHIKAN READY MIX QUARRY is a stormwater outfall in Ketchikan, Alaska, operating under US EPA NPDES MS4 regulations. It serves an industrial quarry catchment, discharging stormwater to local waterways.
KETCHIKAN READY MIX QUARRY is a stormwater outfall located at 4418 N Tongass Hwy in Ketchikan, Alaska, within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. The facility is operational and classified under NAICS code 212321 (Construction Sand and Gravel Mining), indicating an industrial quarry catchment. As a stormwater outfall, it manages runoff from the quarry site, which is subject to stormwater discharge regulations under the US Clean Water Act. The facility operates under the US EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, specifically the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit framework. For industrial activities like quarrying, stormwater discharges are typically regulated under NPDES industrial stormwater permits, which require implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to control pollutants. The site's location in a coastal Alaskan community with high precipitation means stormwater management is critical to prevent erosion and sediment runoff. Environmental significance lies in the potential for quarry runoff to affect nearby water bodies, including the Tongass Narrows or other receiving waters in the Ketchikan area. Stormwater from industrial sites can carry sediment, heavy metals, and other pollutants. Compliance with NPDES permits ensures that appropriate controls are in place to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Environmental context
Ketchikan is located in the Tongass National Forest region of Southeast Alaska, a temperate rainforest ecosystem with high annual rainfall (over 150 inches per year). This climate creates significant stormwater runoff volumes, particularly from impervious surfaces and disturbed areas like quarries. The local waterways, including the Tongass Narrows, support salmon runs and other aquatic life, making sediment control and pollution prevention critical for stormwater discharges. Industrial sites in this region must comply with NPDES permits to minimize impacts on these sensitive ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
KETCHIKAN READY MIX QUARRY is located at 4418 N Tongass Hwy, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901, in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
It is a stormwater outfall managing runoff from a construction sand and gravel quarry (NAICS 212321), discharging stormwater under NPDES industrial stormwater regulations.
The NAICS code is 212321, which corresponds to Construction Sand and Gravel Mining, indicating an industrial quarry operation.
As a US industrial stormwater outfall, it is regulated under the Clean Water Act via the NPDES program, likely requiring an industrial stormwater permit with best management practices for erosion and sediment control.
Alaska's high rainfall and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, including salmon habitats, make stormwater management crucial to prevent sediment and pollutant runoff from quarry operations.
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