1. (a) For reimbursements under 11 AAC 200.010(a)(1)(A),

   1. (1) the department will run a 60-day solicitation on April 1 of each year to collect applications for reimbursement; the department will post information about the solicitation on the department's abandoned and derelict vessel program website, including the annual amount of funding available, the application packet for reimbursement, and the list of projects chosen for reimbursement; if funding remains after completion of the first solicitation period, the department will accept applications on a continuous basis until the allocated percentage listed in 11 AAC 200.010(b)(1) is reached;

   2. (2) the department will accept an application seeking

      1. (A) reimbursement for a derelict vessel removal that has been conducted; or
      2. (B) a guarantee of reimbursement for a derelict vessel removal that a municipality seeks to conduct;

   3. (3) a municipality seeking reimbursement for a derelict vessel removal that has been completed must submit an application on a form provided by the department; the application must include

      1. (A) any information known to the municipality that is responsive to the criteria listed in (b) of this section;
      2. (B) all receipts directly tied to the removal of the vessel;
      3. (C) the total amount the municipality is requesting for reimbursement;
      4. (D) the date the vessel removal occurred; and
      5. (E) other additional information the department determines is necessary to make a determination under (b) of this section;

   4. (4) a municipality seeking a guarantee of reimbursement for a derelict vessel removal it seeks to conduct must submit an application on a form provided by the department; the application must include

      1. (A) any information known to the municipality that is responsive to the criteria listed in (b) of this section;
      2. (B) a formal estimate of the removal cost;
      3. (C) the current ownership status of the vessel;
      4. (D) the total amount the municipality is requesting for the reimbursement guarantee; and
      5. (E) other additional information the department determines is necessary to make a determination under (b) of this section.

2. (b) In reaching a decision on an application, the department will consider

   1. (1) whether the vessel is a derelict vessel within the meaning given in AS 30.30.090;
   2. (2) whether the vessel is an important cultural resource;
   3. (3) whether the vessel's removal may adversely affect cultural resources;
   4. (4) whether reasonable efforts have been made to identify, locate, and hold accountable the party responsible for the vessel;
   5. (5) the condition of the vessel and whether the vessel poses a risk of sinking or breaking up;
   6. (6) whether the vessel poses an environmental hazard;
   7. (7) whether the vessel poses a public safety threat; and
   8. (8) whether the vessel may obstruct other productive uses of the area.

3. (c) Upon approving an application for reimbursement, the department may specify

   1. (1) the total amount to be reimbursed; and
   2. (2) the date by which the vessel removal must be completed.
4. (d) If the vessel removal is not complete on or before the date set by the department, the department may withhold the entire sum previously approved for reimbursement.

(Eff. 3/26/2025, Register 253)

Authority: AS 30.30.090, AS 30.30.096, AS 30.30.095, AS 30.30.165