WRANGELL AIRPORT Stormwater Outfall, Wrangell, Alaska | United States

WRANGELL AIRPORT is a Stormwater Outfall facility located at AIRPORT LOOP RD in Wrangell, Alaska. It serves the airport's stormwater management needs, handling runoff from airfield and related infrastructure. As a stormwater outfall, it discharges collected stormwater into local waterways, operating under the regulatory oversight of the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits. The facility is operational and classified under NAICS codes 488111, 488119, and 488190, which cover airport operations and support activities. Stormwater outfalls at airports typically manage runoff from large impervious surfaces such as runways, taxiways, and parking areas. In Alaska, stormwater management must account for seasonal variations, including snowmelt and permafrost considerations. Environmental significance lies in its role in preventing pollutants from airport activities, such as deicing chemicals, fuel residues, and sediment, from entering nearby water bodies. The outfall likely discharges into the Wrangell area's coastal waters, which support local fisheries and ecosystems. Compliance with NPDES permits ensures that stormwater is treated or managed to protect water quality.

Wrangell is located in the Alaska Panhandle, a region characterized by temperate rainforest, steep terrain, and numerous water bodies. Stormwater runoff from the airport can carry pollutants like deicing fluids, petroleum hydrocarbons, and sediment into nearby streams and the Stikine River estuary, which supports salmon runs and other aquatic life. The local climate, with heavy rainfall and snowmelt, increases runoff volumes and the risk of erosion and pollutant transport.