Background

On August 7, 1987, EPA designated the Community of Eagle River as a PM₁₀ nonattainment area (NAA) due to measured violations of the 24-hour PM₁₀ National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).

On November 6, 1991, the Eagle River NAA was subsequently classified as moderate under sections 107(d)(4)(B) and 188(a) of the CAA. The State submitted a PM₁₀ attainment plan on October 15, 1991. EPA took final action to approve the plan on August 13, 1993 (58 FR 43084 (PDF)(2 pp, 211 K, About PDF)).

On June 22, 1993, the State submitted contingency measures designed to be triggered upon failure of the Eagle River area to attain by December 31, 1994. 

EPA proposed approval of the contingency measures on December 22, 1993 (58 FR 67754 (PDF) (6 pp, 826 K)) and finalized the approval on March 24, 1994 (59 FR 13884 (PDF) (3 pp, 410 K)).

On September 29, 2010, the State requested that EPA redesignate the Eagle River NAA to attainment for PM₁₀ and submitted the Eagle River PM10 Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP). On October 19, 2010, EPA made a determination that the Eagle River nonattainment area had attained the PM₁₀ NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of December 31, 1994 (75 FR 64162 (PDF)(4 pp, 162 K)).

On January 7, 2013, EPA took direct final action to approve the LMP submitted by the State of Alaska for the Eagle River NAA and concurrently redesignate the area to attainment for the PM₁₀ NAAQS (78 FR 900 (PDF)(8 pp, 293 K)). 

Summary

The Eagle River PM₁₀ LMP will continue to use the permanent and enforceable control measures used in the Eagle River moderate PM₁₀ SIP 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 (MOA) commits itself to maintenance of the roads during their 10-15 year lifetime and resurfacing thereafter. The MOA also will 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 Eagle River, Alaska, PM₁₀ Attainment 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: 

1. Surfacing roadway mileage within problem zone with RAP; and
2. “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 Date

March 8, 2013