Summary of Eagle River Particulate Matter (PM-10) Maintenance Plans
Background
On August 7, 1987, EPA designated Eagle River, Alaska as a PM10 nonattainment area due to measured violations of the 24-hour PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).
On November 6, 1991, the Eagle River nonattainment area was subsequently classified as moderate under sections 107(d)(4)(B) and 188(a) of the Clean Air Act. Alaska submitted a PM10 nonattainment plan on October 15, 1991, and EPA approved the plan on August 13, 1993 (58 FR 43084 (PDF)).
On June 22, 1993, Alaska submitted contingency measures designed to be triggered upon failure of the Eagle River area to attain the PM10 NAAQS by December 31, 1994. EPA proposed to approve the contingency measures on December 22, 1993 (58 FR 67754 (PDF)) and finalized the approval on March 24, 1994 (59 FR 13884 (PDF)).
On September 29, 2010, Alaska requested that EPA redesignate the Eagle River area to attainment for PM10 and submitted the Eagle River PM10 Limited Maintenance Plan. On October 19, 2010, EPA made a determination that the Eagle River area had attained the PM10 NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of December 31, 1994 (75 FR 64162 (PDF)). On January 7, 2013, EPA took direct final action to approve the plan submitted by Alaska for the Eagle River area and concurrently redesignate the area to attainment for the PM10 NAAQS (78 FR 900 (PDF)).
On November 10, 2020, Alaska submitted a second 10-year PM10 Limited Maintenance Plan for the Eagle River area. The plan relies on control measures contained in the first 10-year plan and affirms the area continued to monitor PM10 levels well below the PM10 NAAQS. The EPA approved the plan on November 9, 2021 (86 FR 62096 (PDF)).
Summary
The Eagle River PM10 Limited Maintenance Plans rely on permanent and enforceable control measures put in place as part of the Eagle River moderate PM10 nonattainment plan that included road paving and surfacing projects that address fugitive dust. The program paved 22 miles of road which equals almost half of the roads in the area. The Municipality of Anchorage committed to maintain the roads during their 10-15 year lifetime and resurfacing thereafter. In addition, the municipality committed to work with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to limit the amount of silt allowed in winter traction sand as well as explore other road maintenance techniques that minimize road dust while still cleaning and maintaining safe roads.
Rules
Continue activities adopted in the Eagle River, Alaska, PM10 Nonattainment Plan including:
Control Measures
- Paved 8.6 miles of gravel roads with recycled asphalt product (RAP), 1992-1993.
Ordinances
- Eagle River area is part of the Municipality of Anchorage and is subject to Ordinance Anchorage Municipal Code (AMC) 21.85.030 which requires new subdivisions, other than those clearly rural in character, to be served by paved streets (January 16, 1987).
- Ordinance AMC 21.45.080.W.7 mandates paving of all off-street parking areas (September 24, 1991).
Contingency Measures
Resolution No. 90-30, Anchorage Assembly, February 6, 1990, and internal directive (Municipality of Anchorage Memorandum dated December 28, 1989), issued to initiate these contingency measures:
- Surfacing roadway mileage within problem zone with RAP; and
- “Sweetening” a portion of the existing RAP surfaced roads with asphalt emulsion.
Contingency Measures
- Contingency Measures Assessment.
- Dust palliative application to high volume roadways.
- Sweep major roadways prior to periods of anticipated high PM10 levels.
- Dust palliative application to paved parking areas.
- Establish required standards for traction sand materials applied to parking lots.
- Fireplace and woodstove curtailment.
EPA Effective Dates
March 8, 2013 and December 9, 2021