• Examples of ordinances developed by Alaskan communities to address nonpoint source pollution
• Links to model or sample ordinances which may serve as prototypes for the development of measures that address nonpoint source pollution
• Links to examples of how communities in other states have their addressed nonpoint source pollution issues

This project is a work in progress, and will be updated as research proceeds and as new local management measures are identified which address nonpoint source pollution.

What Is Nonpoint Source Pollution? Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, or polluted runoff, is distinguished from point source pollution (such as pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants) in that it originates from a wide variety of sources. Rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground causes NPS pollution. As the runoff moves, it transports natural and human-made pollutants, and deposits them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and underground sources of drinking water.

Nonpoint sources commonly originate from urban development, roads, highways and bridges, timber harvesting, agriculture, hydromodification, and harbors and marinas. These pollutants include:

• Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;
• Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
• Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines;
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems;
• Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution.

Federal Legislation Governing Nonpoint Source Pollution. In 1987, Congress amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977 to establish the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program in response to the need for more federal guidance in focusing State and local nonpoint source efforts. Section 319 enables States, Territories and Indian Tribes to receive grant monies in support of nonpoint source implementation projects.

In 1990, Congress mandated the development of nonpoint source strategies for coastal areas through the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA). Section 6217 of this act requires states such as Alaska, with approved Coastal Zone Management Programs, to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs. In its program, a state or territory describes how it will implement nonpoint source pollution controls, known as management measures , that conform with those described in Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters. This program is administered jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

State of Alaska Programs Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution. The State’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Program has been outlined in Alaska’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Strategy. This strategy identifies potential sources of pollution in Alaska and suggests measures to manage those sources of pollution. The development of this strategy was required by the EPA in order for Alaska to receive continued grant funding under Clean Water Act Section 319.

Alaska’s response to Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 is the Alaska Coastal Clean Water Plan (ACCWP). The ACCWP outlines Alaska’s nonpoint source pollution strategy for coastal areas. Alaska’s Clean Water Actions (ACWA) is a unified effort among the state resource agencies to protect Alaska’s waters.

The Ordinances. The ordinances, or sections of ordinances, have been organized first by the major source categories (listed below) identified in Section 6217(g) Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters. Within each nonpoint source category, the ordinances are organized by the management measure they address. Each ordinance, or ordinance subsection, is identified by locality, title and reference number, and is hyperlinked to the actual ordinance text. Cases where no local ordinance has been found to relate to a specific management measure have been indicated by the statement “There are no ordinances available that address this issue.”

For more information, contact Sally Cox, Planner, Department of Community and Economic Development, at 907-269-4614.

NOTE: The ordinances or sections of ordinances provided on these pages are not the official versions and are provided for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information presented herein, if the most current version or precise language of an ordinance is required, it is recommended that you contact the municipality from which it came.