Sec. 46.40.094. - Consistency determinations for phased uses and activities.
(a) The provisions of this section apply to a use or activity for which a consistency determination is required if
(1) at the time the proposed use or activity is initiated, there is insufficient information to evaluate and render a consistency determination for the entirety of the proposed use or activity;
(2) the proposed use or activity is capable of proceeding in discrete phases based upon developing information that was not available to the project applicant at the time of the previous phase; and
(3) each subsequent phase of the proposed use or activity is subject to discretion to implement alternative decisions based upon the developing information.
(b) When a use or activity is authorized or developed in discrete phases and each phase will require decisions relating to a permit, lease, or authorization for that particular phase, the agency responsible for the consistency determination for the particular phase
(1) may, in its discretion, limit the consistency review to that particular phase if, but only if,
(A) the agency or another state agency must carry out a subsequent consistency review and make a consistency determination before a later phase may proceed; and
(B) the agency responsible conditions its consistency determination for that phase on a requirement that a use or activity authorized in a subsequent phase be consistent with the Alaska coastal management program; and
(2) shall, when the consistency review is limited under (1) of this subsection, conduct the consistency review for the particular phase and make the consistency determination based on
(A) applicable statutes and regulations;
(B) the facts pertaining to a use or activity for which the consistency determination is sought that are
(i) known to the state agency responsible or made a part of the record during the consistency review; and
(ii) material to the consistency determination; and
(C) the reasonably foreseeable, significant effects of the use or activity for which the consistency determination is sought;
(3) Shall, when the consistency review is limited under (1) of this subsection, describe in the consistency determination the reasons for its decision to make the consistency determination for the use or activity in phases.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for a natural gas pipeline project from the Alaska North Slope following a route that parallels the Trans Alaska Pipeline System and the Alaska Highway to the Canadian border or a route that runs south to Alaska tidewater, any agency responsible for the consistency determination with respect to proposed uses or activities involved in the project may, in its discretion, conduct the review and make the consistency determination in separate phases in a manner that promotes review of proposed uses and activities based upon the project's design, construction sequence, and schedule.
(d) In this section, "agency responsible for the consistency determination" means the Department of Natural Resources, for a consistency determination required to be made under AS 46.39.010 ; and the commissioner of the resource agency that coordinates a consistency review for a proposed use or activity, or for a proposed phase of a use or activity, when required by this chapter for which a permit, lease, or authorization is required to be approved or issued only by that resource agency.