The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its proposal to approve Alaska's updated plan aimed at reducing harmful wintertime particulate pollution in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. This decision follows significant revisions made by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to a previous 2023 plan that failed to meet health-based standards for fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5.
Casey Sixkiller, Regional Administrator of EPA’s Region 10 office in Seattle, stated, "I am incredibly proud to announce today that EPA is proposing to approve Alaska’s plan to protect residents from the harmful effects of PM2.5 air pollution in the Fairbanks North Star Burrough." He emphasized this achievement as a result of collaboration between federal, state, and local leaders and residents. Sixkiller added, "After nearly 14 years, I am pleased to have a plan that puts the FNSB on the path to meeting federal air quality standards."
Jason Olds, Air Quality Director for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, highlighted the importance of community involvement in developing a model to understand PM2.5 formation in the area. He said, “The collaboration with partners in the community, EPA, and Region 10 over the past two years has been instrumental.” Olds noted that residential home heating remains a significant source of PM2.5 pollution.
Despite reductions in average PM2.5 levels since 2015, wintertime levels during inversions still exceed federal standards. Scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to serious health issues such as heart and lung disease.
Over two years, EPA and ADEC worked on a model indicating residential heating as a major pollution source. The new plan includes measures like stricter dry wood requirements for woodstove users and tighter emissions restrictions on coal stoves.
Approval of this plan initiates lifting a freeze on federal funding for new transportation projects triggered by EPA's disapproval of parts of Alaska's previous air quality plan in December 2023.
The next steps involve opening a public comment period followed by finalizing action on the state's plan within 2025. This will remove federal sanctions clocks and support efforts towards achieving PM2.5 air quality standards by 2027.