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Air Quality in Different Parts of Alaska

As is the case with many other states in the union, Alaska has experienced threats to its air quality. In partnership with federal agencies and local entities, the state has endeavored to rectify these issues in a number of its most vital urban and outlying areas. Alaska provides authoritative oversight and information distribution through its official Division of Air Quality.

  1. Anchorage & Matanuska-Susitna Valley

    • In 1978, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorized the city of Anchorage as a non-attainment area --- a label handed down by the EPA after a location has consistently displayed air pollution above national standards for a sustained amount of time. The concern with Anchorage centered on carbon monoxide levels. As of 2011, Anchorage has not risen above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards --- the criteria for non-attainment status --- since 1996. The Matanuska-Susitna Valley is known for "wind-blown dust events" that originate in silt beds. As of 2011, the Butte area was just below the health standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meters, with 31.

    PM10, Eagle River & Juneau

    • Another non-attainment area found in Alaska, Eagle River, has garnered the designation as high in PM10. "Particulate matter" ("PM") refers to materials found in the air, measured in micrometers. Therefore, a PM10 is a PM that measures 10 micrometers or less. These particles are considered particularly dangerous due to the fact that they can access and reside in the lower portions of a human's respiratory tract. While Juneau has not been registered as an official non-attainment zone, the Alaska Department of Air Quality considers it "very close to exceeding" the standards for particulate matter like PM2.5. Juneau has not violated the levels for PM10 since 1994.

    Fairbanks

    • The city of Fairbanks, also a non-attainment area for PM2.5, is a maintenance area for carbon monoxide. It received a label as a non-attainment area in 1991. However, as of 2011, the city has not had any reported violations of carbon monoxide levels since 1999. After two years without a violation, the city received an order to submit an official plan for carbon dioxide maintenance. The EPA approved the plan in 2002. However, the EPA did not revoke the city's non-attainment status at the time.

    Rural Alaska

    • While not everywhere, some portions of rural Alaska are subject to air quality issues related to particulate matter --- especially PM10 --- from dust matter prevalent in the air in related locations. As of 2011, there were nearly three dozen areas throughout the state had either registered official complaints with government agencies or had official monitors present to observe the conditions of air quality. The state of Alaska Division of Air Quality provides a map isolating each of these communities in a color-coded format to distinguish between complaint and monitor status.

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