The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tentatively lifted a freeze on federal funding for certain projects in Interior Alaska, potentially reviving dormant plans. The funding was initially held back in January 2024 due to concerns about the state's air quality plan. While a final decision is pending, this development could pave the way for projects like a new interchange, highway reconstructions, and resurfacing work.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Interior Alaska could see a number of dormant projects come to life after the Environmental Protection Agency has lifted a freeze on certain kinds of federal funding.
However, Fox said that funding was limited to projects that were already planned and were not available to projects that were still in the works or needed significant adjustment to their funding.The agency announced Wednesday it tentatively accepted the state’s revisions, pending a final decision. “If you read the notice in the Federal Register based on the comment received, the EPA understands that they may move forward with this action to relieve the sanctions, or they may reverse that action and keep the sanctions, so that is still to be determined. Of course, we’re hopeful that they’ll maintain relief of that sanction,” Fox explained.It is unclear when the EPA will ultimately decide the fate of project funding in the Interior.
“So we’re doing the work to put together the programming details with the latest cost estimates and the latest schedule for each of those projects to include those updates in our funding plan, and this is something that’s going to take some time as well,” Fox said.
EPA Funding Interior Alaska Projects Air Quality
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