Air quality legislation introduced at assembly meeting

PALMER — Of all the packets of legislation and informational memorandums lining the back wall of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly chambers during meetings, the air quality ordinance may be in contention for the thickest of all time.

Informational Memorandum 19-040, Ordinance 19-032 and Resolution 19-022 were introduced to the assembly and will be available for public hearing at the next assembly meeting in two weeks. The much maligned air quality issue was brought to Butte Elementary School for a question and answer session with borough planners as well as the Department of Environmental Conservation and the American Lung Association earlier this year. After stopping at the Planning Commission, the Air Quality legislation finally made it to the assembly agenda. Following as much speculation and outrage as there has been at meetings and on social media, members of the public flocked to the assembly meeting to speak on the legislation.

“We know the facts have been brought forward, there’s no reason to push this air quality issue before the Assembly here. There’s no federal or state statute that requires it. There’s no evidence that there’s a health issue at all,” Brian Endle said. “I’m not for this obviously I’m not for the legislation I’m not for the propaganda that’s being put forward.” Endle introduced himself as a candidate for the District 1 seat with his comments against the ordinance, but he was in the minority. The majority of the members of the public who spoke were in favor of the air quality ordinance.

“We have a lot of trolls out there on social media, so a lot of what’s going around about the air quality ordinance is a lot of trash and scare tactics,” Mitzi Van Asdlan said in favor of the legislation. “It also provides us with the ability to provide more information to people that may not have the kind of information that they need.”

Of those that spoke to the assembly, four were in favor and two were against. Acting Planning Chief Ted Eischeid gave a summary of the legislation to the assembly. The ordinance creates a Butte air quality district. On days when air quality advisories are issued, Butte residents will not be able to burn outdoors, in burn barrels or slash. In the many presentations Eischeid has made, he’s consistently noted that these bad air days likely only occur two to four times a winter, when the cold still air collects over Butte and keeps emissions from escaping, elevating levels of pm 2.5, which he testified can be harmful to Butte residents.

“You claim that the air quality is unhealthy in the Butte specifically, is there any data pointing to higher mortality rates or worse outcomes specifically in the Butte that you can use to actually demonstrate that,” assemblyman Jesse Sumner questioned.

Eischeid responded that the scientific body of research detailing the impacts of pm 2.5 are fairly extensive, including a long range study done in multiple cities.

“If you can get that it’s called a design value down to 2.5, there’s measurable effects. So I’m happy to share that data with you, I don’t have it memorized but it’s statistically significant benefits to health,” Eischeid said.

The borough has not reached a status of non-attainment, incurring penalties for failing to maintain air quality, but is taking pre-emptive measures to keep from dealing with government regulations the way Fairbanks is currently.

“Something needs to be done. I hope you guys pass this ordinance. It is the very minimum you should do to be able to look yourselves in the mirror. Our little kids are being poisoned out there,” Patti Hurt said.

While air quality has long been on the borough’s radar, the impending septage crisis also reared its head on Tuesday. Ordinance 19-028 was presented to the assembly for public hearing to change the meeting schedule of the Wastewater and Septage Advisory Board from quarterly to monthly.

“The only people that really know anything about this are the people involved in the industry,” assemblyman George McKee said in favor of the ordinance. “It’s to the borough’s benefit actually to have them meet and for them to give us the benefit of their advice. It’s really a big benefit to us and it doesn’t cost a whole lot either.”

McKee stated that he was in favor of the ordinance in belief that Borough staff required to attend and support the meeting of the Wastewater and Septage Advisory Board were salaried employees not paid hourly.

“We do need to be looking at cutting back on the number of boards and commissions we have and the amount of meetings that they have,” Sumner said. “This board could probably meet daily and accomplish nothing.”

Sykes said that 85 percent of the borough is on their own septic tanks, and if monthly meetings were required, the Advisory Board could lose staff support. Currently, septage has to be taken to be treated in Anchorage, a long scorned issue. The Mat-Su Borough had the ability to treat their own septage in the 1980’s, but that facility was shut down and one of the two facilities in Anchorage will also be shut down. Sumner moved to call the question, eliminating room for debate and mandating a vote on the ordinance. Mat-Su Borough Director of Capital Projects Jude Bilafer was called on to testify.

“Mike Canfield the only licensed environmental engineer on the borough staff and I will daresay the most knowledgeable out of anyone to include any of the haulers and all staff members. So the cost to support going from quarterly to monthly is due to the overtime bill several thousand dollars that we would incur the Borough,” Bilafer said.

McKee questioned why Bilafer could not attend and take notes to support the Advisory Board himself.

“Since we do not have that expertise in house we have to contract for it when we need it,” Sykes said.

The ordinance was postponed until the next meeting for further information.

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