EPA proposes approval of Alaska’s plan to reduce harmful air pollution in Fairbanks North Star Borough

EPA proposes approval of Alaska's plan to reduce harmful air pollution in Fairbanks North Star Borough

January 8, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it is proposing to approve Alaska's newest plan for combatting harmful wintertime particulate pollution in the Fairbanks-North Star Borough.

EPA's proposed approval is the result of significant changes made by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to a plan it submitted in 2023 that EPA determined would not achieve health-based standards for fine particulate matter, often referred to as PM2.5.

"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," said Casey Sixkiller, Regional Administrator of EPA's Region 10 office in Seattle.

"This is a major achievement in our collective efforts to improve air quality and a testament to what is possible when federal, state, and local leaders, and residents, work together.

"After nearly 14 years," Sixkiller continues, "I am pleased to have a plan that puts the FNSB on the path to meeting federal air quality standards. As a result, EPA is also announcing that we have begun the process of removing any temporary restrictions on federal funding required by law. While today is a day to celebrate, it is important to underscore that the work is not yet done - once EPA formally approves this plan, it will be up to residents to ensure it succeeds."

Jason Olds, Air Quality Director for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, says, "The collaboration with partners in the community, EPA, and Region 10 over the past two years has been instrumental in developing a robust model to better understand the formation of PM2.5 in the area. The results have underscored the importance of addressing residential home heating, which remains the most significant source of PM2.5 pollution in the area.

"Just as community involvement drove the development of this plan, the State of Alaska is committed to working with the community in Fairbanks and North Pole to ensure successful implementation and clean air."

While average PM2.5 levels in the FNSB have fallen by about half from 2015 levels of approximately 130 micrograms per cubic meter, wintertime levels during inversions remain almost double the federal 24-hour standard of 35 micrograms. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.

Over the last two years, EPA has worked with ADEC to develop a model to better understand how and where PM2.5 forms in the Fairbanks area. The model results indicate that residential home heating remains the most significant source of PM2.5 pollution in the region and suggest that the state's and borough's efforts to reduce wood burning and use of high sulfur fuel oil will help the area achieve compliance with Clean Air Act standards in 2027.

Specifically, Alaska's latest plan includes:

• Stricter dry wood requirements for woodstove users;
• Lower allowable emissions from coffee roasters;
• Tighter emissions restrictions on coal stoves;
• Permits limiting PM2.5 emissions from area power plants ;
• A requirement to conduct a home energy audit before listing a home for sale and provide the purchaser with an energy rating report; and
• Improved contingency measures to help keep the area on a path to attainment.

Today's proposed approval of the state plan also begins the process to lift the freeze in federal funding for any new transportation projects in the Borough that was triggered when EPA disapproved parts of the state's previous air quality plan in December 2023. The process to lift the freeze should be complete when EPA finalizes notice-and-comment of the state's air quality plan for the FNSB. The restriction on federal highway funding would have become effective on January 4, 2026.

EPA's proposed approval also halts the agency's implementation of an "offset sanction" and a restriction of federal highway funding. The "offset sanction" is an additional Clean Air Act requirement that would restrict the construction or modification of any large source of pollution unless the state can reduce emissions by twice the amount emitted by the new source. This "offset sanction" would have become effective on July 4, 2025.

What's next

Following publication of this proposal, the EPA will open a 30-day public comment period seeking comments on the proposed rulemaking. After notice and comment, a final determination that the transportation budgets are adequate will lift the transportation freeze in Fairbanks. The agency anticipates finalizing action on the state's plan in 2025. A final action that finalizes EPA's proposed full approval of the Fairbanks plan will also formally remove the federal sanctions clocks.

The EPA will continue to support the state and local officials to implement the nonattainment plan to ensure the area reaches attainment of PM_2.5 air quality standards by the 2027 attainment date.

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