State releases Fairbanks air quality improvement plan

FAIRBANKS — The state Department of Environmental Conservation submitted its final required air quality improvement plan to the Environmental Protection Agency intended to help Fairbanks reach compliance with the Clean Air Act.

The department released the Serious State Implementation Plan for Fairbanks North Star Borough allowing the public to see changes and their effective dates, KTVF-TV reported Friday.

This plan reflects revisions made after the department received public feedback, including increasing the time before some requirements take effect, officials said.

"The tremendous local input we received from Fairbanks and North Pole residents, businesses, and groups was used to help better tailor the regulations and requirements for the community. This plan will ultimately improve air quality and will lead to attainment in less than a decade," department Commissioner Jason Brune said in a news release.

The plan prohibits the use of wood as the only heating source in homes, requires the use of EPA-certified wood burning devices, prohibits commercial sellers from selling anything other than dry wood and multiple other changes.

The plan also enforces additional requirements for businesses that generate emissions such as large industrial corporations or smaller coffee-roasting and charbroiling businesses, officials said.

Some of the changes have delayed effective dates but most of the regulations are expected to go into effect Jan. 8, department officials said.

Officials have encouraged residents and business owners to visit the department’s website to see more information on the plan.