Opinion: Federal healthy air violations more than a traffic ticket

The Mat-Su Borough was warned last year that just one more healthy air violation from still cold weather air inversions could put the Borough into federal Environmental Protection Agency's classification of “non-attainment.” It's a 20-year process where the feds can force the local governments to meet national healthy air standards through regulations that can be costly and onerous.

At issue are required levels of small particles (called PM 2.5) that are mainly caused by smoke from burning green wood, slash, and trash. The air quality monitor in Butte is the only one that flags significant violations in Mat-Su. The neighboring monitor in Palmer rarely finds any PM 2.5 violations. The Butte has been on the outer limits of the regulations for several years. Last year we escaped by the skin of our teeth.

However, one unusual violation happened in September. We still have another month before year's end when violations can often occur. It's important to understand that going into federal “non-attainment is not like a traffic ticket.

Once in “non-attainment” it's too late to get out. The Environmental Protection Agency decides how large of an area needs enforcement. It could be the entire Borough or a large chunk of it. Mat-Su would argue, with good evidence, that solving the problem needs to be isolated at Butte only. But EPA has the final word.

Then the heavy hand of EPA forces the local government to clear the air to federal standards which can last 20 years. Ask Fairbanks North Star Borough. They have been in “non-attainment” for over 30 years.

Once Fairbanks air problems tipped them into the tar pit of “non-attainment” EPA required that Borough to implement costly programs and onerous regulations, including wood stove replacements.

Butte's bad inversion weather is not as bad as Fairbanks or even Juneau (which was also in “non-attainment). But the same federal rules apply to everyone across the country, including Mat-Su.

The problem at Butte is not huge is locally solvable. The larger problem is the state and federal governments coming with a heavy hand of their enforceable regulations.

Because Mat-Su is not classified in “non-attainment” we have the opportunity to reduce our risk and avoid having state and federal regulation take place. One unusual violation happened this September. We still have another month before year's end when violations can often occur.

During the past two years, the Borough encouraged people to voluntarily burn dry wood. It provides more efficient heat, less wood is needed, and it saves money. The Borough has also called air alerts for blowing dust over the past 20 years (PM 10), in cooperation with Alaska Division of Environmental Conservation. Sometimes schools cancel outdoor athletic events and people with breathing difficulties take extra steps to minimize their exposure.

With the smaller PM 2.5 particles, there's a couple of actions the Borough can take that helps solve the problem and that can prevent federal and state regulations coming to Mat-Su. One is by calling alerts so people are aware of the situation. It's also on the web 24/7 at http://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/Aq/

We have a tradition of wood stoves and don't plan to regulate them. False media rumors over the past three years claimed Mat-Su was planning to impose Fairbanks style regulations here. It was never true and it's not true now.

A proposal now being reviewed by the Borough Planning Commission respects people's right to heat their homes and that includes wood stoves.

It's important to establish a Butte Air Area and describe it legally. Only Butte residents might be asked to delay burning outside trash, burn barrels and slash for a day or two during severe air inversions. This might be asked something like 5 to 10 days each winter.

Remember only Butte residents are asked to delay burning, unlke Borough-wide week’s long burning halts in summer for fire safety.

Residents from Sutton, Glacier View, Talkeetna, Wasilla, and other areas of the Borough--105,000 people who don't live in Butte--to can continue as usual without being asked to do anything special.

This very small ask is available to us and the Borough is able to advocate for it's residents against the imposition of unreasonable federal rules.

If the Borough were not involved the state and feds will be. The EPA is very persistent at enforcing healthy air rules, including military bases. We need to try our local solutions first before the feds try to impose their more restrictive regulations.

The issue itself has many facets and a ton of social media misinformation doesn't help. We need to understand the process we face, get to the bare facts and have a common understanding to solve the problem locally before the state and federal governments do it for us.

Doing nothing is not a solution.

Jim Sykes currently serves on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. The views expressed are his own and do not represent the Assembly or the Borough.