Vegetation Management
From 1983 to 2010, the Alaska Railroad has tried to control vegetation along its track solely with non-chemical methods including mechanical brush-cutting, manual labor, steam and burning. Despite these efforts, the volume and location of vegetation along the track has resulted in stiff fines from the Federal Railroad Administration, the railroad's federal regulatory agency. Adding chemical vegetation control to our non-chemical methods greatly enhances the Railroad's ability to improve safety and comply with federal regulatory requirements. Below is an update on the Alaska Railroad herbicide use permits from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). Copies of the permit applications are available upon request and are also available at the ADEC web site (http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/pest/publicnotice.htm).
Status on Current Herbicide Use Permits being considered by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC):
2012: Palmer-Wasilla Area Along Mainline/Branch Track
- Covers 16-foot-wide strip of railroad right-of-way for 12 miles along the Palmer Branch and along the mainline from the Palmer Branch to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway crossing.
- Applyling early January 2012
- Comment Period January 12 - March 12, 2012
- Pubic Hearing: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., February 1, 2012, at Evangelo's Restaurant, Mile 40 Parks Highway, Wasilla
Permit Notice appearing in Frontiersman newspaper- Link to Palmer-Wasilla Permit application on ADEC web site
2012: Gold Creek to Broad Pass Along Track
- Covers 16-foot-wide strip of railroad right-of-way for 38 miles along mainline track from Gold Creek (34 miles north of Talkeetna), north to Broad Pass.
- Applyling early January 2012
- Comment Period January 12 - March 12, 2012
- Pubic Hearing: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., February 2, 2012, at Northern Susitna Institute, 22510 Talkeetna Spur Road, Talkeetna
- Permit Notice appearing in Frontiersman newspaper and Talkeetna Good Times
- Link to Gold Creek-Broad Pass Permit application on ADEC web site
2012: Clear to Fairbanks Along Track
- Covers 16-foot-wide strip of railroad right-of-way for 60 miles along mainline track from Clear, north to Fairbanks.
- Applyling early January 2012
- Comment Period January 12 - March 12, 2012
- Pubic Hearing: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., January 31, 2012, at Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, 813 Noble Street, Fairbanks
- Permit Notice appearing in Fairbanks Daily News Newspaper
- Link to Clear-Fairbanks Permit application on ADEC web site
Comments/Contacts for 2012 Permit Applications:
- Comment by March 12, 2012, to Rebecca Colvin, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 999501; Phone (907) 269-7802; Fax (907) 269-7600; Email Rebecca.Colvin@alaska.gov
- For specific information about the application, contact Karin Hendrickson, ADEC Pesticide Program, 1700 E. Bogard Raod, #B103, Wasilla, AK 99654; Phone (907) 376-1856; Fax (907) 376-2382; Email Karin.Hendrickson@alaska.gov
Status on Current Herbicide Use Permits previously approved by ADEC:
2009: Seward Railyard and Seward-to-Indian Along Track
- Covers up to 30 miles along 90-mile stretch between Seward and Indian, and the Seward Rail Yard
- Applied to ADEC July 2009
- Approved by ADEC April 30, 2010
- Administrative Appeal by environmental groups on June 1, 2010
- Administrative Appeal denied; Herbicide used July 25-27, 2010
- Court Appeal May 27, 2011, by Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), Alaska Survival, and Cook Inletkeeper. Appeal on procedural and constitutional grounds only; it does not involve heath or safety issues.
- Alaska Railroad news release in response to appeal
- Herbicide applied June 20, 2011 and June 27, 2011
2011: Anchorage Railyard permit
- Covers rail yard in Anchorage Terminal Reserve
- Applied to ADEC January 2011
- ADEC Public Hearing February 18, 2011
- Public Comment Deadline March 16, 2011
- Permit Approved by ADEC May 6, 2011 (Details in application - see links below)
- 45-day waiting period ends June 15, 2011
- Herbicide applied June 21-22, 2011
2011: Fairbanks and Healy Railyards and nearby branches permit
- Applied to ADEC January 2011
- ADEC Public Hearing February 22, 2011
- Public Comment Deadline March 21, 2011
- Permit Approved by ADEC May 6, 2011 (Details in application - see links below)
- 45-day waiting period ends June 15, 2011
- Herbicide applied June 23-26, 2011
More information regarding herbicide use applications can be obtained from ADEC contact:
Karin Hendrickson at ADEC’s Pesticide Program
1700 E. Bogard Road, #B103, Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 376-1856
Fax: (907) 376-2382
Email: Karin.Hendrickson@alaska.gov
More information can be found at ADEC's web site.