2026 18 AAC 50 Fairbanks Nonattainment Area Split Regulations – Public Hearing (Fairbanks)

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has initiated a regulatory process to amend 18 AAC 50 of the Alaska Administrative Code. The proposal seeks to divide the existing Fairbanks North Star Borough 24-hour PM 2.5 nonattainment area into two separate zones: the Fairbanks area and the North Pole area. This change is intended to better align air quality management strategies with local conditions. In addition to the geographic split, the DEC proposes updating the State Air Quality Control Plan, specifically Volume III Appendix to Volume II Section II, to maintain consistency with the new regulatory designations. Once finalized, these changes will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for inclusion in the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The agency has scheduled two public hearings for November 17, 2026, in Fairbanks and North Pole. Written comments and questions are being accepted through November 30, 2026. The DEC has stated that the proposed changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.