On August 3, the FNSB Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) held a public hearing concerning the potential impact of the Kinross Manh Choh mine trucking plan on the air quality in the PM2.5 non-attainment area (see map). Six members of Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways (ASAH) gave public testimony. An audio recording of the public hearing is available. Air quality experts from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation (FAST) Planning Commission and Trinity Consultants gave testimony and answered questions posed by the APCC commissioners. Public comments highlighted the sheer number of ore truck trips through town (70,000+ per year), the added congestion at intersections resulting in extended idling of all vehicles in line behind the trucks, and the fact that Kinross has not made the details of the trucking plan or truck configuration public.
Following the hearing, the APCC sent a set of recommendations to FNSB Mayor Ward. Click here to read the APCC letter. ASAH will continue to follow up on this action with the APCC.