On Aug. 9 the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) remanded Constantine’s wastewater treatment permit which was initially issued in July as part of the Palmer Projects phase II plan.
The decision comes after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on a case in Hawaii. They determined that the discharge of wastewater into navigable waters requires a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The original permit issued to Constantine did not receive federal approval.
It is unclear how this will impact the Palmer Project.
State Attorney’s Generals throughout the country - including Alaska - requested that the US Supreme Court review the decision because it infringes on state’s rights to manage waterways, according to the Juneau Empire.
The DEC has 90 days to review the permit.
Further reading on the issue can be found in the following articles:
https://www.juneauempire.com/news/hawaii-lawsuit-could-have-big-implications-for-alaska/