ANCHORAGE — Three environmental groups are turning up legal pressure on a federal agency to require a cleanup of polluted Fairbanks air.
The groups in June sued the Environmental Protection Agency to force an agency decision on whether to accept a state plan to reduce unhealthy fine particulate produced by wood stoves and other sources.
The groups Wednesday sent a letter to the EPA announcing their intent to sue again because the agency has missed a deadline to require the Fairbanks North Star Borough to address pollution controls.
A letter giving 60-day notice is required before a lawsuit can be filed.
Earthjustice is representing the groups. Attorney Kenta Tsuda says federal law requires the EPA to designate the Fairbanks borough as a “serious non-attainment area” that would trigger additional pollution controls.
