Tatalina LRRS Stormwater Outfall, McGrath, Alaska | United States

Tatalina LRRS is a stormwater outfall facility situated in McGrath, Alaska, within the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. As a stormwater outfall, it serves as a discharge point for stormwater runoff, likely from the Tatalina Long Range Radar Station, a military installation. The facility operates under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, which regulates stormwater discharges to protect water quality. Given its location in a remote area of Alaska, the facility likely handles stormwater from an industrial catchment associated with the radar station. The operational status is active, indicating ongoing management of stormwater runoff. Typical stormwater outfalls in such settings may include basic treatment or control measures such as detention basins or oil-water separators to manage pollutants. The environmental significance of Tatalina LRRS lies in its role in managing stormwater in a sensitive subarctic ecosystem. Discharges from the outfall could potentially affect nearby water bodies, which may be important for local wildlife and communities. Compliance with NPDES permit requirements is critical to minimize impacts on water quality in this pristine region.

The facility is located in the subarctic climate of interior Alaska, where permafrost and seasonal snowmelt influence hydrology. Stormwater runoff from the Tatalina Long Range Radar Station may contain pollutants such as sediment, heavy metals, or hydrocarbons from industrial activities. Discharge to nearby water bodies could affect aquatic habitats, including those supporting salmon and other cold-water species. The facility operates under the US Clean Water Act, requiring adherence to NPDES MS4 permit conditions to protect water quality.