EPA Approves Alaska's Regional Haze Plan for Cleaner Air
Published Date: 3/3/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just gave the green light to Alaska’s plan to clear up regional haze and improve air quality for the next few years. This means Alaska will keep working to reduce pollution that clouds the skies in special natural areas, starting April 2, 2026. Communities, businesses, and nature lovers in Alaska can expect cleaner air without big new costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Recordkeeping and Reporting for Alaska Sources
If you operate a fuel-burning or industrial source in Alaska’s regional haze visibility protection area, Alaska regulation 18 AAC 50.265 (State effective August 21, 2022) requires you to save maintenance records, submit emissions data to the State for the national emissions inventory, and include in each permit application an assessment of whether proposed emissions increases may affect the State's reasonable further progress goals. These requirements were approved by the EPA and incorporated into the Alaska SIP by the EPA's action published March 3, 2026, effective April 2, 2026.
EPA Approval Adds No New Federal Burdens
The EPA approved Alaska's 2022 regional haze SIP for the second implementation period and stated this action "merely approves State law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law." The EPA also certified the action "is not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act; the EPA action is effective April 2, 2026.
Visibility Protection Area Defined and Federally Enforceable
The EPA incorporated Alaska regulation 18 AAC 50.025 ("Visibility and other special protection areas," State effective August 21, 2022) into the Alaska SIP, making the geographic scope of Alaska's regional haze visibility protection area federally enforceable as of the EPA's approval on March 3, 2026 (effective April 2, 2026). If you live, work, or visit those defined areas in Alaska, those areas are explicitly identified for regional haze protections in the federally approved SIP.
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