Air quality anger: Assembly passes controversial ordinance

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough Assembly passed Ordinance 19-032 by a 4-3 margin. Assemblymen Ted Leonard, George McKee and Jesse Sumner voted against while Deputy Mayor Matthew Beck, Tam Boeve, Dan Mayfield and Jim Sykes voted for the air quality ordinance.

Public comment raged on for more than two hours before the assembly voted on the ordinance that has suffered through the public process twice. The ordinance had been scheduled to be voted on days after the Nov. 30, 2018, earthquake, but was referred to the Planning Commission for a second time. The borough held an informational meeting attended by about 50 residents at Butte Elementary. The ordinance would establish fines of $150, $300, and $500 for the first three strikes of burning slash or in a burn barrel on days identified as “bad air days” with inversion conditions in the Butte.

Discussion on the assembly centered around the possibility of posing the question to Butte voters before implementation. Sumner offered an amendment to multiply the fines by 10 so that the ballot would be more effective, which failed. Many members of the public who were opposed to the ordinance made reference to air quality regulations in Fairbanks which has cost the North Star Borough $8.5 million over the last 30 years, according to Sykes. Public commenters said that should the ordinance pass, there would likely be a citizen initiative to repeal the regulations.

Debate on whether or not to believe and subsequently legislate outdoor burning on inversion days based on the science provided held much of the attention of both the public and members of the assembly. Numerous public commenters and McKee called it, “junk science.” The Department of Environmental Conservation standard was lowered in 2006, bringing the Butte air quality monitor within 80 percent of non attainment status through the Environmental Protection Agency. Butte air quality issues are affected by increased levels of P.M. 2.5 which occurs on inversion days in the winter and P.M.10, which occurs when glacial silt blows through the Valley during spring and fall season changes. The proposed changes were focused on the correlation between P.M. 2.5 and negative health effects on those with pre-existing respiratory issues. Of the 3,800 residents, roughly 700 suffer negative health effects on days of elevated P.M. 2.5 measurements, which occur when particles hang low in the calm, cool conditions and fail to escape. Many members of the public called into question the placement of the Butte air quality monitor and the results of elevated P.M. 2.5 levels, some even calling the measurements propaganda. Other public commenters called into question the sources provided by those who oppose the ordinance.

Supporters of the ordinance saw it as an opportunity to show efforts put forth by the Borough to prevent non-attainment status, should air quality worsen and incur penalties from the DEC. Sykes mentioned that citizens of Fairbanks have paid fines after reaching non-attainment status and residents of Juneau wanted to create a smaller regulation area from Gastineau Channel winds that elevated levels in the Mendenhall Valley. Federal regulation came down on the entire Borough. After passionate testimony in favor of the ordinance, Sykes shockingly moved to postpone the ordinance until June 18, which failed.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.