EPA to put Fairbanks on air pollution problem list
Published Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Federal environmental officials confirmed Tuesday that chronic air pollution is steering Fairbanks toward their list of problem communities.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it intends to include Fairbanks and Juneau on a list of places where tiny bits of airborne dust, termed “particulate” pollution, or PM2.5, is bad enough to cause serious health concerns and force local officials to respond.
Local and state officials announced two years ago they would draft a plan to combat air pollution after the federal government tightened air pollution standards across the country. The EPA expects to soon open a 30-day public comment period on its tentative listing.
While Fairbanks North Star Borough officials expected the EPA would take aim at Fairbanks for pollution problems, Glenn Miller, who directs the borough’s Air Quality Division, said they are surprised at the map accompanying Tuesday’s news. He said the map indicates the EPA might believe pollution hits a broader geographic area here than local officials think it does, but added that borough officials are early in their analysis of Tuesday’s announcement.
Health professionals told the borough’s advisory Air Pollution Control Commission earlier this summer that short- and long-term exposure to fine-particulate pollution can cause serious health problems.
When they become lodged deep in the lungs, particulates can cause chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function and, for people with lung or heart disease, shorter lives.
The federal government also listed communities with pollution problems outside Alaska such as Tacoma, Wash., and Klamath Falls, Ore.
Community Discussion
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The Borough needs implement a ban volcano eruptions and Siberian forest fires.
The Borough 2003 Air Quality Control Plan (Maintenance Plan) covers CO monitoring at 3 CO sites and paticulates is only monitored at the State Building. The particulate management falls under the AK DEC's State Air Quality. From the 2002 report, CO from wood burning was listed as 2%. Hope the State and Borough doesn't pressume woodstove smoke converges from the borough to the state building.
Manufacturing wood pellets in/for the borough would a positive management and energy resource endeavor to consider.
burning all the coal in town for the power plants probably doesn't help a whole lot....
Allegheny,
The issue is fine particulates, not carbon monoxide. And the issue is mostly a winter air quality problem, so you can't blame forest fires in Siberia for that. The fact is, Fairbanks has bad air in the winter, and most of it is human-caused. Also, Fairbanks may only cover a small geographic area, but that is where the majority of people in the interior live, so bad air in Fairbanks afects most of the people in the region. Maybe you don't value your lungs, but I certainly do, so I am glad that the Borough will be forced to deal with the problem.
Oh, Akhusky, there are not particulates in Siberian fires? I wonder how they accomplish that. Oh wait, I forgot, Whitaker and Obama probably solved that problem too. Bye Jim, don't come back.
AkRascal,
I didn't say there are not particulates generated from Siberian fires, or any other. My point is that the big issue with Fairbanks air quality is in the winter (so no fire smoke), and the fine particulate sources are from human activities.
Wow, just wait until this winter when everyone fires up these new wood boilers and wood stoves they have put in and we have our first inversion. I can just see the borough trying to tell everyone they have to shut them down or get fined. Going to be a fun winter.
Everyone knows what this means, your fuel prices are just going to continue to stay high... BURN Wood......
A good resource for information on Fairbanks PM2.5 is available on the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation - Division of Air Quality wesite.
The report "Governor's Recommendations for PM2.5 Area Designation - Supplemental Information" includes the non-attainment area and PM2.5 sources (burning oil, woodstoves, etc).
This game the EPA has been playing all these years is never going to end. The Feds need to put their money where their mouth is. Let them subsidize putting in natural gas lines to all the homes and businesses all over the Borough and subsidize "cheap" natural gas that everyone can afford. Then I am sure almost everyone will be serious supporters. But I don't see this happening, as it will take EPA jobs away. It will become a non growth program.
Here is the plan that the borough needs to submit:
A gas pipeline will soon be built enabling our community to switch from coal and high-sulfur heating oil to clean burning natural gas. This will eliminate all pollution problems associated with PM2.5. It is cost prohibitive to implement any short-term solutions in the interim.
This should bring people to this community. Again if the Gobi dessert sands can blow into Fairbanks what else gets blown in. Russia and China are exactly know for clean air. Let's get down to the nitty gritty, how much will this cost us and how many more restrictions will it place on our lives. Again, Anchorage is home free on this one. As far as a gasline, Fairbanks gas can you state for certain that it will be built.
"The Feds need to put their money where their mouth is. Let them subsidize putting in natural gas lines to all the homes and businesses all over the Borough and subsidize "cheap" natural gas that everyone can afford."
So Hairbrain, this means you want a government handout.
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"A gas pipeline will soon be built enabling our community to switch from coal and high-sulfur heating oil to clean burning natural gas. This will eliminate all pollution problems associated with PM2.5."
Fairbanksgas, this is a very weak argument unless the infrastructure is in place to convert most of the homes and businesses in the non-attainment area to natural gas heat.
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"how much will this cost us and how many more restrictions will it place on our lives"
FreeDarfur, Unfortunately, restrictions on certain activities are a reality when people live in high densities. It is not a God-given right for everyone who chooses to heat their homes with a high particulate heat source to pollute the lungs of those who choose not to.
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I fail to see why anyone would want to continue to live in Fairbanks if the air quality gets much worse in the winter. Air quality regulations are in place to protect everyone's health, so I fail to see why so many people are opposed to that concept. I am just glad that the decision to regulate air quality is not in the hands of the people who think seeing and smelling the air we breath is a good thing.
This winter will be the worst winter for Fairbanks since the industrial revolution. All of those outdoor wood boilers are not rated by the EPA. If you've ever scene one burning, the amount of smoke produced is incredible. Also many people will be firing up their old woodstoved and fireplaces. Most of these aren't rated either. If you have any doubts about the difference find someone with an epa stove and look at their stack. Almost no emmisions.
As for natural gas, It will do little for the Bourough air quality as a majority of residents live outside of the core area where the gas is available. There is very little infrastructure to support gas in Fairbanks and no plan deal with it. Natural gas is tough to distribute in it's liquid form.
It's going to be a smoky winter. We have an individual buying and putting in outdoor wood boilers on zero lot lines here in UWest across from the school on PaloVerde. It's amazing it's legal to put in those inefficient smoke machines, but in a Borough that's too lazy to enforce minimum building codes, what can you expect? Those boilers are great for rural areas, and the manufacturers definitely do not recommend they get installed close to neighbors, but there will always be the idiots who don't give a damn about anyone else installing these in high density neiborhoods. Yes, I'm warm, and too bad you're choking on my smoke and miserable all the time. Can't wait to see the lawsuits fly on this one. Hopefully this EPA issue will be the death knell for these machines within the Fairbanks metro area and get the Borough off their duff and work on efficient wood stoves and pellet plants instead of $2 billion dollar synthetic fuel pipe dreams.
AKHusky - just curious - what positive, concrete solutions do you have to offer?? Just wondering...
Yeah, what exactly are the alternatives? How does one travel to work or school in the winter or keep warm or keep lights on and cars plugged in or keep pipes from freezing without creating "human caused" particulates?
Is the FNSB air quality division going to be going door to door brandishing their guns to shut our wood stoves down to those of us who can't afford burning our oil boilers with #2 diesel at over $4 a gallon?
No AKHusky, we've given up on relief from the State as Anchorage legislators couldn't give a damn about how much we've paying since they enjoy clean burning natural gas @ a greatly subsidized rate. I too, like to breathe healthy air but when it comes to the choice of living or freezing to death, you damn right I'll be burning my wood stove.
When you're at it have the Federal Government issue more exclusive water rights to Alaska's rivers to outside companies who have no interest in providing lower power costs but whose only interest is greed.
AKHusky-I fail to see why anyone would want to continue to live in Fairbanks if the air quality gets much worse in the winter.-
Then Move!!!! Or wear an airpurifying respirator.
Ah that's why I been having a coughing thought that was the cause. Them California's so smart they finally pointed out the cause. I knew it wasn't the three packs a day I've been smoking. lochuff chuuff
My thought is it's a way for them to keep the I/M program thats supposed to be going away soon.
The DEC report shows particulate from sulfur and nitrates associated with burning oil is slightly higher than wood smoke particulate in the winter months (05-06). The report notes the baghouses and stack heights for the coal plants minimize their contribution. And winter woodstove restrictions are implemented during the high CO periods.
Should oil heating be banned in the winter also?
Should the city core area expand steam heat service?
Would restrictions and permitting for the Fairbanks bowl area apply to the entire borough?
Natural gas, hydroelectric (or cleaner electric) to supplement winter heating and wood pellet production may be strategies to evaluate for the future.
Fairbanksgas;
You are correct a natural gasline will be built in Alaska. The major question is why isn't the alaskan voters building it and it's infrastructure, not T/C. People will be getting the gas before 2010-2012. The shame is it could be here in state much sooner but not with T/C. A second check like a PFD but from a natural gas line built and owned by alaskans would build a stronger Alaska. But if one is not observing and staying on top of the state and national laws and their timelines and how they are effected. In the next few years many things will be changing in so many areas of our daily lives. An example of the coming changes is the R ratings to building codes to EPA to DEC and onward. We will be required if not by law or zoning or need to convert to liquids such as natural gas in the next few years. The increase of natural resources being used in different forms than are common thru out Alaska is at our back door with all of it's infrastructure. Natural gas will impact us as much if not more than the use of electric utility had. The DEC and EPA will be knocking some laws down the throats of the Borough and those of us in the PM2.5 Area, for ignoring State and Federal laws. Change is hard from old ways to new one. Change is hard for those who don't follow up on new laws and mandates and how they affect and effect us. Change can improve our lives. Only stupid questions there is, is the ones not asked and ask till you get answers. There is questionable sales being made of outdoor wood boilers that are not rated by the EPA. EPA over sees our air quality. EPA is aware of these outdoor wood boilers and others on the market and not rated by the EPA, EPA currently has a ongoing investigation.
P_Davenport
AKhusky do you even line in Fairbanks. High density population, 90,000 people in 8,000 square miles. The Borough is as big as the State of New Jersey. That's about 11 people per square mile. A small percentage live in the city area, the majority live outside of the city of Fairbanks. And since the Borough Major says we will lose 22,500 people (25% of the population) this year that makes it even less. After all if the leader of the local government says its true, it must be.
My questions are:
Why has the State not protected those of us in the PM2.5 Area, from finaical risks and legal risks of involvement in the misconduct of businesses' numberous incidents of violations and infractions of the Borough, State and Federal laws pertaining to EPA's ordinances, regulations, laws. By purchasing, installing, and using an, EPA non-approved, outdoor wood boiler makes many of us violators of the EPA.
Why has the Borough not protected those of us in the PM2.5 Area, from finaical risks and legal risks of involvement in the misconduct of businesses' numberous incidents of violations and infractions of the Borough, State and Federal laws pertaining to EPA's ordinances, regulations, laws. By purchasing, installing, and using an, EPA non-approved, outdoor wood boiler makes many of us violators of the EPA.
Why has Fairbanks not protected those of us in the PM2.5 Area, from finaical risks and legal risks of involvement in the misconduct of businesses' numberous incidents of violations and infractions of the Borough, State and Federal laws pertaining to EPA's ordinances,
regulations, laws. By purchasing, installing, and using an, EPA non-approved, outdoor wood boiler makes many of us violators of the EPA.
The State, the Borough, the town has, by ignoring and not responding, has put many at risk, people may pay in more than one way. Incidents of violations and infractions of EPA's ordinances, regulations, and laws has results that can be very costly to the violators of them.
I'm neither for or against outdoor wood boilers. My concern is for those who innocently brought one to stay warm, may end up paying in more than one way. Which isn't fair or just. Catch 22's have a bite. Fore sight is better than hind sight. Now, we wait for the EPA.
P. Davenport
I just think that the government should do more studies on the problem. Then do more studies on why the oil prices are so high………… oh yea then do a study on what they started the study on in the first place…
Just curious if anyone knows if this will affect the gasoline that we will be purchasing. Remember when the EPA(I think it was the EPA) required an additive to the gasoline for a couple of winters?? I had terrific headaches and respiratory problems more than normal during this time period. I think a lot of people had side effects to this additive. Thanks if anyone knows the answer to this.
What ever happen to the study the borough financed with the University of Alaska regarding the causation of the particulates. It was suppose to take three months and it should be due. This was when the Mayor wanted a syn gas plant and was granted complete control to do what he wanted without assembly oversight. Doesn't the public have a right to know. By the way, what about the natural pollutants given off in this area due to it's geology. Always heard the old miners talk about natural asbestos in the air and if you live here all your life your lungs look like you have been a smoker when you die. Anyone know, rumor or truth? This was way back when there were actual miners in this town.
Beware this is the first shot across the bow!! I will bet anyone that we will have some groups, these same ones that tried in vein to shut down the construction of the POGO Mine project.
They will be out to ban woodstoves from the FNSB, we will have people like public out ratting out their neighbors that are burning wood.
I was over visiting a freind near UWest, he was having a dead spruce tree felled for firewood for this winter. His neighbor was doing the same thing, as were several other home owners near by.
Woodstoves are here for the long haul, or till some other cheaper fuel source is made availible, natural gas would be my guess.
Wood stoves in the FNS Borough have had some kind of threat hanging over them by the Feds since at least about 1985. In about 1985 or so I remember a threat going on about woodstoves and catalytic converters being required. So to me this is no big surprise.
But as I mentioned before, I stand behind my statement about the Feds funding natural gas piping in the FNS Borough and providing "cheap" natural gas for us. After all, for the past 30 years those of us that live in the FNS Borough have been given what can be considered a non-funded mandate. Now its time for the Feds to fund the mandate they created and maintained on all of us in the FNS Borough.
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I guess the bullet line needs to be Built with funds out of the EPA's budget.
My Greenwood boiler is EPA certified and is wired as the primary heat source for my house. It does not produce any more smoke than my oil furnace did and my total heating cost for this winter will be $0.00 if you don't count the gas for the chainsaw.
The problem with woodstoves is that many if the stoves in Fairbanks are not epa rated. The newer stoves that are rated are expotentialy cleaner. We don't allow cars with no emmissions on the road. And most peoples stoves are burning 24/7. Now I'm not a big fan of over-regualtion but people won't do the right thing unless they are forced too. Pollution is a problem. There are alot of facotrs that cannot be controlled but we should do what we can
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