NORTHLAND GOLD DREDGING, OPERATES A PLACER MINING FACILITY NEAR NYAK, ALASKA. ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO RECOVER GOLD FROM NEAR SURFACE PLACER DEPOSITS THROUGH THE USE OF A FLOATING BUCKET DREDGE WITH A 250 YDS/HR CAPACITY. EPA CONDUCTED AN UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION OF NORTHLAND ON AUGUST 30 AND SEPTEMBER 8, 1982 AND FOUND SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE CWA AND A 309 ORDER ISSUED TO NORTHLAND. ALTHOUGH THEY FILED AN APPLICATION FOR AN NPDES PERMIT, ONE HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED TO NORTHLAND. THE 309 ORDER ISSUED TO NORTHLAND REQUIRED THAT ALL POLLUTANTS DISCHARGED FROM THIS FACILITY BE REDUCED OR LIMITED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. NORTHLAND DID NOT HAVE ANY WATER POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM IN PLACE DURING THE THE INSPECTIONS. THE CO ALSO FAILED TO SUBMIT THE MONITOR- ING RESULTS AND OPERATING PLAN REQUIRED BY THE ORDER.