Fairbanks Air So Bad It Needs Federal Intervention Plan
Published Date: 1/8/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA is proposing to approve Alaska’s plan to clean up dirty air in the Fairbanks North Star Borough by cutting harmful tiny particles called PM2.5. This plan includes new rules for big polluters, better tracking of pollution, and steps to meet air quality goals. People and businesses in Fairbanks should get ready for these changes, with public comments open until February 7, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Stricter rules for home heating
The state's SIP revisions include more stringent performance and operating requirements for residential and commercial heating devices and new regulations for wood sellers in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The SIP was submitted December 4, 2024 and the EPA is proposing action on that plan (public comment deadline February 7, 2025).
Local stove change-out cuts PM2.5
Local programs like the Wood Stove Change Out Program and the Oil-To-Gas Conversion Program (managed by the Fairbanks North Star Borough) reduced direct PM2.5 by over 1.3 tons per episode day for 2020 through 2026. These programs are included in the Fairbanks Revised 189(d) Plan used to project attainment.
Plan projects attainment by 2027
The Fairbanks Revised 189(d) Plan projects attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard by 2027; the EPA proposes to approve the 2027 projected attainment emissions inventory and the 2020 base year inventory. The State reports the 2027 projection yields a 41% reduction in total PM2.5 and a 5% reduction in SO2 overall, with space-heating reductions of 63% for direct PM2.5 and 45% for SO2.
Tighter air-quality curtailment levels
The State recently tightened its Solid Fuel-Burning Appliance Curtailment Program by lowering alert stages to 20 micrograms per cubic meter and 30 micrograms per cubic meter. These lower thresholds are part of the measures Alaska used in its attainment projection for Fairbanks.
Partial BACT findings for local power plants
The EPA's prior and current actions include partial approval of Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and related PM2.5/NH3 determinations for specific Fairbanks-area power plants (e.g., Doyon‑Fort Wainwright Central Heating and Power Plant; University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus Power Plant; Zehnder Power Plant; North Pole Power Plant). Some BACT determinations were approved in part while other plan control elements were disapproved previously.
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