Fairbanks projects’ federal funding freeze could soon be lifted [Video]

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) – 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.

The funding was held back starting in January 2024, when the EPA determined that the state’s plan to address air quality issues in the Interior was insufficient, granting only partial approval.

Since then, some project funding has continued to be available, according to Jackson Fox, Executive Director of Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation (FAST) Planning.

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.

In response to the funding hold, the state revised its plan and resubmitted it to the EPA.

The agency announced Wednesday it tentatively accepted the state’s revisions, pending a final decision.

While the …