EPA authorizes Alaska to run its own hazardous waste program

Businesses that generate, haul, store or dispose of hazardous waste in Alaska will now deal mostly with state regulators instead of federal ones. The Environmental Protection Agency granted Alaska final authorization Wednesday to run the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle C program, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation picks up the day-to-day work: permitting, inspections, compliance assistance and enforcement. EPA keeps its federal oversight and its own authorities under federal law.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and EPA Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon signed the documents. DEC Commissioner Randy Bates, Deputy Commissioner Crystal Koeneman and staff from both agencies joined them.

Alaska becomes the 49th state to run its own hazardous waste program and, according to EPA, the first to win initial Subtitle C authorization in more than 25 years.

"By administering this program here at home, we can provide more responsive service to Alaskans while maintaining strong environmental standards," Dunleavy said.

Four Years to Get Here

The handoff took four years and drew in DEC, EPA Region 10, the Alaska Department of Law, Tribal partners and industry. Alaska's state hazardous waste regulations took effect June 1, 2025. EPA published a tentative determination in May, and public comment closed July 2. Alaska News previously covered that tentative approval and the questions it raised about enforcement capacity in remote communities.

EPA keeps its oversight role and its independent enforcement authority. Under the state-federal agreement, DEC's permitting authority stops at Indian country and Denali National Park and Preserve, where EPA continues to issue permits.

"Alaska is ready to take on this responsibility," Bates said. Pokon said state-led permitting "gives businesses the certainty required to deploy capital."

Industry welcomed the change. The Alaska Miners Association wrote on X that it "applaud[s] this action that results in regulation by Alaskans that understand the environment here at home!" Tribal partners took part in the consultation process, and their communities sit near hazardous waste transport and disposal routes. They did not comment in the state's announcement, which included no critics of the transfer.