Fairbanks: A Study of Environmental Quality

Abstract

Fairbanks, Alaska is used as a w e study for assessing problems of environmental quality that may intensify or develop in rapidly expanding northern settlements. constraints imposed by site and situation are severe, although they have been partially overcome by highcost technological measures. Additionally, flood damage, inadequate community action, and high costs have led to poor housing conditions and a housing shortage. Dispal of solid, liquid and wastes, inadequately controlled in the past, has now become a serious problem. Enforcement of new health standards and the development of community-wide planning represent recent measuns to improve environmental quality. Rf?SUM&. A Fairbanks, U M dtude sur la qualift du milieu. Fairbanks, Alaska, sert aux auteurs comme 6tude de cas, pour 6valuer les problhmes de qualité de l'environnement qui devraient s'intensifia ou se développer dans les communautb urbaines nordiques en expansion rapide. Les contraintes qu'imposent le site et la situation sont s6v&res, bien que des mesures technologiques tr&s milteuses les aient partiellement surmonth. De plus, les inondations, l'action inadhuate des com-munaut& et les coOts ClevC ont men6 2t une pauvreté et une rareté du logement. Mal contri316e par le pas&, l'6vacuation des dkhets solides, liquides et gazeux est maintenant devenue un problhme s6rieux. La mise en force de nouveaux standards de sant6 et le dCveloppement d'une p l d c a t i o n a l'tkhelle de la communaut6 sont des mesures r6centm pour am6liorer la qualit6 du milieu.

Accumulated state of the Yukon River watershed: Part I critical review of literature

“…Before the 1970s, there were no wastewater treatment facilities and in the late 1960s recorded coliform counts upstream from Fairbanks were 50/100 mL but downstream they were 500 000/100 mL (Frey et al ). In the 1970s, the population of Fairbanks jumped to 17 000 and a wastewater treatment system was installed (Pearson and Smith ). There were 5 sewage systems in total; 3 primary treatment facilities with 1 within the city, 2 at Fort Wainwright, and 2 secondary treatment facilities at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the International Fairbanks Airport (Pearson and Smith ).…”

“…In the 1970s, the population of Fairbanks jumped to 17 000 and a wastewater treatment system was installed (Pearson and Smith ). There were 5 sewage systems in total; 3 primary treatment facilities with 1 within the city, 2 at Fort Wainwright, and 2 secondary treatment facilities at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the International Fairbanks Airport (Pearson and Smith ). Currently, a secondary wastewater treatment facility, called The Golden Hearts Utilities Wastewater Treatment Plant, services the city of Fairbanks as well as the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, College Utilities Corporation, and commercial septage haulers (USAI ).…”

“…Many First Nation communities and villages located along the river have expressed concern over waste disposal in their area (YRITWC ). In 1972 in Fairbanks, State authorities were threatening to shut down the local landfill because it did not meet required standards (Pearson and Smith ). It is now partially redeveloped and a new regulated landfill has been installed in another area.…”