Dust Pollution

Help Protect Our Health from Industry Dust Pollution

Industry dust from demolition projects, blasting operations, roads and dirt roads, and uncovered materials in stockpiles or being transported can pose a serious health hazard.  The coal industry creates many health threats, including risks from coal dust and coal ash, some of which can be addressed through meaningful fugitive dust regulations.

Find out more about the Community Impacts of Coal Mining and Transportation.

Learn about Coal Ash and Your Health.

A number of key elements must be incorporated into Alaska’s fugitive dust regulations to adequately protect our health and environment from coal and other industry generated dust.

The revised regulations developed by the Department of Environmental Conservation should provide examples of the types of reasonable precautions that should be taken to prevent particulate matter from being emitted into the ambient air, including but not limited to:

(1) Use, where possible, of water and/or appropriate and safe inert dust suppressants for control of dust in the demolition of existing buildings or structures, construction operations, the grading of roads or the clearing of land;

(2) Application of asphalt, water, and/or appropriate and safe inert dust suppressants on dirt roads, materials stockpiles and other surfaces which may create airborne dust; the paving of roadways and the maintaining of them in a clean condition;

(3) Installation and use of hoods, fans and fabric filters to enclose and vent the handling of dusty materials, including the use of appropriate full containment methods during sandblasting or other similar operations;

(4) Covering, or treating in an equally effective manner at all times when in motion, any equipment for conveying or transporting materials likely to create objectionable air pollution when airborne;

(5) Prompt removal of any spilled or tracked dirt or other materials, including dried sediments resulting from soil erosion, from paved streets;

(6) Washing the wheels, undercarriage, and other parts of every vehicle that hauls coal or other materials before or immediately after the vehicle leaves a dusty, dirty, or muddy surface, including but not limited to haul roads at a mining or processing facility;

(7) Cleaning the empty bed and/or any other part of a vehicle that had recent contact with material capable of emitting dust; and

(8) Installation and use of rumble strips, speed bumps, or other devices designed to reduce vehicle speed and to dislodge mud and other materials from tires and vehicle bodies before vehicles enter public roads.

(9) Mechanical monitors should be utilized rather than relying on modeling to quantify emissions from problematic facilities.

(10) If costs of containment to the defendant are to be considered when evaluating what is and isn't reasonable more effort needs to be taken to accurately quantify negative externalities. (ie health care)

(11) This rule change should immediately and permanently apply to all fugitive dust emitters with no waivers or exceptions.