Notwithstanding 18 AAC 70.020, 18 AAC 72.010, and 18 AAC 75.700 - 18 AAC 75.730, the department will, in its discretion, issue a permit for the discharge of oil, asphalt, bitumen, or a residuary product of petroleum onto the land or into state waters for research and scientific purposes. The department will issue a permit under this section only after it has evaluated the proposed project and found that

1. (1) the benefits from the information that will be developed outweigh the potential environmental damage that might result;
2. (2) the project has the written approval of all potentially affected landowners and persons with appropriated water rights for the water to be affected;
3. (3) the person proposing the project will, upon completion of the project, restore the environment affected by the project to a condition as near to the original condition as feasible;
4. (4) the person proposing the project has sufficient expertise and resources to conduct the project in a responsible manner; and
5. (5) the proposed project is otherwise in the public interest.

(Eff. 5/14/92, Register 122)

Authority: AS 46.03.020, AS 46.03.740