Performance Details

Department of Environmental Conservation - Division of Environmental Health

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Mission

Provide Alaskans with clear standards so that they can protect our environment and provide safe food and drinking water.

Core Services

• Achieve environmental protection by requiring appropriate management of Alaska's landfills and safe pesticide use.
• Protect public health with regulated food, seafood, and public facilities.
• Provide laboratory testing services, analytical and technical information for assessment of risks to public health, welfare, and the environment.
• Verify safe drinking water and compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Mission Results	Core Services
A: Achieve environmental protection by requiring appropriate management of Alaska's landfills and safe pesticide use.  Details >	A1: Achieve environmental protection by requiring appropriate management of Alaska's landfills and safe pesticide use.  Details > TARGET #1: All municipal solid waste facilities are authorized by the Department of Environmental Conservation. TARGET #2: Class III village landfills inspected have an average inspection score of 80% or greater using the Waste Index inspection form.
Mission Results	Core Services
B: Protect public health with regulated food, seafood, and public facilities.  Details >	B1: Protect public health with regulated food, seafood, and public facilities.  Details > TARGET #1: 50 percent of all food manufacturers are inspected at least once each fiscal year. TARGET #2: All permitted retail food establishments are inspected at least once each fiscal year. TARGET #3: All inspected permitted retail food establishments are found to have staff with required food safety training and certification. TARGET #4: Retail food establishment operators control all risk factors for foodborne illness.
Mission Results	Core Services
C: Provide laboratory testing services, analytical and technical information for assessment of risks to public health, welfare, and the environment.  Details >	C1: Provide laboratory testing services, analytical and technical information for assessment of risks to public health, welfare, and the environment.  Details > TARGET #1: All requested tests for chemical and biological animal diseases and environmental toxins are completed. TARGET #2: All acceptable sample requests are completed on-time within project parameters. TARGET #3: All livestock and poultry entering Alaska have current health permits.
Mission Results	Core Services
D: Verify safe drinking water and compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.  Details >	D1: Verify safe drinking water and compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.  Details > TARGET #1: All Alaskans served by a public water system are served by systems in compliance with health-based standards. TARGET #2: All public water systems submit required sanitary surveys according to their designated schedule.

Performance Detail

Target #1: All municipal solid waste facilities are authorized by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Methodology: The measure is calculated by dividing the number of authorized landfills in each classification by the total number of landfills in each classification. The data for this measure is pulled from the Solid Waste Program database Analysis of results and challenges: Municipal landfills are classified based on the average daily intake of solid waste. Class I landfills receive greater than 20 tons/day, Class II landfills receive five to 20 tons/day, and Class III landfills receive less than five tons/day. In FY2021 the total number of municipal landfills included nine Class I landfills, 13 Class II landfills, and 184 Class III community landfills. All municipal landfills are required to have a permit or authorization issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The permitting process ensures that the landfill design and the operational practices used comply with regulatory standards. During FY2021, 100 percent of Class I landfills, 92 percent of Class II landfills, and 90 percent of Class III landfills were operating under a State permit or authorization. Although one Class II landfill was unpermitted during FY2021, the Solid Waste Program was nearing the end of the public comment period for the new permit for that landfill when FY2021 ended. Class III landfills continue to be the primary focus of Department efforts. Those efforts include building relationships with community members and providing technical and other assistance to rural landfill operators as well as tribal and municipal staff. Specific to permitting in FY2021, the program renewed 28 Class III landfill permits and issued two new Class III landfill permits. One Class III landfill permit expired in FY2021. The two new permits reflect the fact that the Class III landfills that have not yet been permitted are those that are the most difficult to permit. However, the Department continues to reach out to those communities and is starting to see efforts being made to improve solid waste management practices. This is a good sign that the interest in and assistance to those communities is having a positive impact that will benefit the people and the environment in those places.

Target #2: Class III village landfills inspected have an average inspection score of 80% or greater using the Waste Index inspection form. Methodology: The measure is calculated by dividing the total percentage score for inspections conducted in the given fiscal year by the number of inspections performed. Totals are queried from the Solid Waste Information Management System (SWIMS) database. Analysis of results and challenges: Class III community landfills accept less than five tons of solid waste per day. These landfills are typically located in small, remote communities and pose distinct regulatory and compliance challenges. The Department of Environmental Conservation has worked for the past decade to regulate these small landfills, and to provide the technical assistance necessary to allow each community to effectively overcome the specific challenges posed by its landfill. Inspections are the primary tool available for evaluating regulatory compliance, and the on-site time during the inspection is when technical assistance is most easily provided. Inspections are scored using the Waste Index Inspection Form which tracks 34 different categories related to landfill operations and scores each category via comparison to a series of incremental steps. The Waste Index allows inspectors to easily and consistently evaluate the operations and management of Class III landfills, while the incremental steps provide the landfill operator with clear guidance as to what changes can be made to improve landfill operations and achieve increased compliance with the regulations. As of the end of FY2021, the Department completed Waste Index inspections at 179 of the 184 Class III landfills. In an average year, Department staff can inspect 40-50 facilities. Due to COVID19 travel restrictions that were in effect for most of FY2021, the Department was only able to perform seven repeat inspections at Class III landfills in FY2021. The average Waste Index inspection score from these inspections was 78 percent, with five landfills having an increased score, one landfill having a decreased score, and one landfill having no change in score. The average increased score was 9.8 percent and the one decreased score dropped 2 percent. Overall, FY2021 scores averaged 7.8 percent higher than the previous score at each of the inspected landfills. While it is difficult to draw conclusions from such a small dataset of inspection scores, the overall increase in compliance shows that solid waste management efforts in rural communities did not stop during the pandemic, and that Solid Waste program staff were able to provide technical assistance and offer encouragement to rural landfill operators despite the inability to travel to rural communities. The continued upward trend in inspection scores documents that the Waste Index inspection process and the outreach provided by program staff continue to have a positive impact that results in increased compliance at small, rural landfills.

Target #1: 50 percent of all food manufacturers are inspected at least once each fiscal year. Methodology: Sum of permitted food manufacturers and the sum of permitted food manufacturers inspected as reported in the Food Safety and Sanitation Program's "USA Food Safety" database. Analysis of results and challenges: In FY2021, the State of Alaska had 1,313 food manufacturing facilities, which included 809 seafood, 462 general food, and 42 shellfish operations. The department was only able to inspect 31 percent of Alaska's shellfish processors, 10 percent of seafood processors, and 2 percent of general manufactured food processors. Of the total number of food establishments the department was able to inspect 8 percent of which 6 percent were Seafood processors, 1 percent were Shellfish processors and 1 percent were general food manufacturers. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the Department’s routine operations. Several environmental health officers were temporarily assigned to COVID-19 task force at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Due to COVID-19 pandemic public health protection efforts, limitations on travel, and industry’s implementation of enhanced food processing protocols limiting off-campus contacts to protect community members and employees, the Department suspended most physical inspections until May 2021 (when statewide COVID-19 rates decreased due to vaccine availability. For non-shellfish food manufacturers, the Department focuses its resources on physically inspecting facilities that are a part of the FDA contract inspection list, facilities that have been categorized by the program as high-risk, and complaint or illness investigation. The Department is required to inspect shellfish facilities on a prescribed schedule each year to maintain compliance with the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP); however, the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) implemented emergency policies to temporarily relax inspection schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental health officers undergo extensive and ongoing training in manufactured food, retail and food service, molluscan shellfish, and other public facilities to provide competent, consistent, and uniform application of program activities. This training consists of a combination of online, classroom, and on-the-job learning opportunities. Staff attrition adds significant challenges in meeting inspection goals because the process of bringing a new environmental health officer on deck for independent inspections takes time and resources. Currently, 12 qualified environmental health officers complete non-shellfish manufactured food inspections in addition to retail food and public facility inspections statewide.

Target #2: All permitted retail food establishments are inspected at least once each fiscal year. Methodology: Sum of permitted food establishments and sum of permitted food establishments inspected as reported in the Food Safety and Sanitation Program's "USA Food Safety" database. Note - does not include an approximate 235 temporary food establishments. Analysis of results and challenges: On-site inspections are a critical component of an effective regulatory public health food safety program. Inspections serve to verify compliance with food safety rules, as well as educate and work collaboratively with operators to develop strong food safety management systems. Out of concern for safety of industry, communities, and environmental health officers, the Department made the difficult decision to suspend in-person retail food inspections until May 2021. However, to assess operations’ control over food safety risks, follow up on outstanding concerns, and to provide valuable technical assistance, the Department developed a virtual assessment protocol and pivoted its operation to engage with operators. The Department prioritizes conducting risk-focused, high quality inspections and completing timely inspection follow-up on inspections to protect the public’s health. This includes categorizing its inventory based on risk to efficiently allocate resources. Factors used to assign risk include consideration of characteristics of the foods served, the establishment's preparation processes, and whether the facility specifically serves a population that is at a higher risk of contracting a foodborne illness. Examples of facilities assigned to a high-risk category include full-service restaurants, nursing homes, and food processors that smoke, cure, or reduce-oxygen package products for extended shelf-life. Medium-risk facilities include quick service operations, schools not serving a highly susceptible population, and retail food store operations that prepare food for immediate service. Low-risk facilities include coffee stands, hot dog carts, convenience store operations, and bars and taverns that serve and sell commercially processed foods that require minimal preparation. In addition to considering the assigned facility-specific risk categorization, the program determines inspection frequency priorities by considering facility-specific factors such as complaint and inspection history as well as community size, number of permitted facilities, and location. In FY2021, there were 4,986 permitted permanent food establishments, and a total of 171, or 3.43 percent were inspected in person by Department staff and 323 virtual food safety assessments were completed. Of these, 19 required follow-up inspections to ensure corrective actions were taken. In-person inspections and virtual assessments covered 16 percent of high-risk retail food facilities and 13 percent of medium-risk retail food facilities. Low-risk facilities are generally only inspected when complaints are received, if the facility has never been inspected, if the opportunity arises when an inspector is in a community, or if it is affiliated with a higher risk facility.

Target #3: All inspected permitted retail food establishments are found to have staff with required food safety training and certification. Methodology: The total number of inspected establishments without items 1 - Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) for facilities required to have them, 2 - Person in Charge or, 3 - Food Worker Cards for all workers marked out as reported in Food Safety and Sanitation Program's "USA Food Safety" database. Calculated by dividing the number of establishments with safety training and certification by the number of inspected permitted establishments, as reported in the Food Safety and Sanitation Program's USA Food Safety database. Analysis of results and challenges: Food safety education and training are critical in preventing foodborne illness. Approximately 50 percent of American food dollars are spent at food establishments. Likewise, over 50 percent of reported foodborne illness outbreaks originate in food service establishments and are often attributable to food workers' improper food handling practices. Since December 28, 2006, all food handlers have been required to have basic food worker training and hold an Alaska Food Worker Card issued by the Food Safety and Sanitation program. The Department of Environmental Conservation provides online test preparation and testing and aggressively works to increase industry education statewide. In addition, all establishments classified as high to medium risk (based on the complexity of menu and preparation processes) must employ at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM), a person who is knowledgeable about food safety management practices and systems and has passed a nationally-accepted examination. When the CFPM is not present at a food establishment, the operation must have a designated Person in Charge (PIC) who ensures that food workers are handling food safely. This measure reflects the percentage of inspected facilities that had food worker cards for all employees, and those that had either a PIC or CFPM present, as applicable. During FY2021, 86 percent of facilities were found to have staff with proper training and certification, which is equivalent to the percent from FY2020; and, 73 percent of facilities had Food Worker Cards for all employees, which is a 1 percent increase from FY2020. Although the responsibility for food safety lies with the food establishment's workers who are procuring, storing, preparing, and serving food on a daily basis, it is important that Department staff have face-to-face discussions with food professionals to reinforce and verify compliance with requirements. These on-site visits are critical to changing behaviors that lead to foodborne illness and serve as a critical tool to educate workers about food safety.

Target #4: Retail food establishment operators control all risk factors for foodborne illness. Methodology: Sum of observations of foodborne illness risk factors (IN and OUT) observed during inspections divided by the sum of foodborne illness risk factors observed in compliance (IN) as reported in the Food Safety and Sanitation Program's "USA Food Safety" database. Analysis of results and challenges: The occurrence of foodborne illness is grossly underreported which makes it unreliable as a measure of effectiveness of the State's efforts to protect public health. As an alternative, the Department looks at the number of risk factors for foodborne illness present during inspections as an indicator of its impact on Alaska's retail food operators. Risk factor categories reported in this measure include food held at unsafe temperatures, inadequate or incomplete cooking, contaminated food and equipment, and poor personal hygiene. These categories represent the food preparation practices and food employee behaviors that are most often responsible for foodborne illness outbreaks and that can be reasonably measured during inspections. During on-site, risk-focused assessments of the facility's operations, Department staff evaluate a food establishment operator’s ability to control the risk factors in their food establishment, provide education and technical assistance, and ensure compliance with food safety rules. In addition to prioritizing use of its resources to plan its work, the Department conducts considerable outreach and technical assistance through other means, such as its comprehensive website, educational materials that accompany operation permits, and participation in industry events and conferences. Food establishment compliance for the risk factor categories of food at safe temperatures, protection of food and equipment from cross-contamination, and personal hygiene have generally decreased since FY2012. Lack of control over personal hygiene is most often responsible for foodborne outbreaks. Personal hygiene broadly reflects elements such as hand washing, not working when ill, and avoiding bare hand contact with food that will not be further cooked. Protection of food and equipment from contamination is also important and includes cleaning and sanitizing food-contact surfaces. Keeping food at safe temperatures includes cooling prepared foods safely, a more complex process requiring well-trained food workers and adequate equipment. Though food cooling procedures have been evaluated less frequently during previous inspections because of inspection timing and the length of time for cooling, the Department has increased quality assurance reviews, standardized inspection methods, and increased environmental health officer training, resulting in more observations and findings in this category. As facilities work with environmental health officers during inspections and receive more feedback, the Department expects improvement in these risk factor categories.

Target #1: All requested tests for chemical and biological animal diseases and environmental toxins are completed. Methodology: Tests completed by the Environmental Health Laboratory in response to requests from customers in a fiscal year. Analysis of results and challenges: It is the goal of the Department of Environmental Conservation's Environmental Health Laboratory to provide accurate, timely, and reliable results for 100 percent of the acceptable requests received. In FY2021, the Laboratory successfully completed analysis on nearly 90 percent of the work submitted that year. An additional six percent of requests were prepared and managed for subcontract laboratories. Results from subcontract laboratories were slowed during the pandemic due to staffing shortages and laboratory closures. In FY2021 there were 13,401 new tests requested, which is about a 12 percent decrease over last year. This is largely a result of the pandemic reducing the ability to conduct inspections and opportunistic sampling. The Laboratory also conducted two internal verification projects: one of the new STEC method and the other of the PCOX method. The STEC method is used to detect shiga toxin producing E.coli and the PCOX method is used to detect paralytic shellfish toxins. The Laboratory continuously works to update forms and processes to assist and educate clients while still adhering to a quality system compliant with multiple oversight programs. To assist customers in meeting the sample submission requirements, the Laboratory maintains a "Sample Submission Manual" that provides guidance on proper sample collection, handling, and shipping. This manual can be accessed on the Department's website at https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/lab.aspx. Related links:    • Division of Environmental Health

Target #2: All acceptable sample requests are completed on-time within project parameters. Methodology: The on-time performance for work order reporting is pulled from the LIMS by month and collated for a yearly percent. Analysis of results and challenges: The Department of Environmental Conservation's Environmental Health Laboratory utilizes a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to more efficiently provide laboratory testing services, analysis, and technical information for assessment of risks to public health, welfare, and the environment. All sample submissions to the Laboratory are entered into the LIMS, labeled with unique identification numbers, and distributed to staff for processing and analysis. Submission turnaround time (TAT) varies based on customer need, project parameters, and workload balancing. The on-time completion of work orders represents the timeliness of final result delivery. In FY2021, the Laboratory had five months of 100 percent on-time reporting. The lowest month was 96.5 percent. The marked increase in on-time delivery spanning FY2016 to FY2018 is the result of two factors: First, the number of processes in-house has decreased, improving the ability to complete sampling requests, and secondly the Department identified an information technology learning curve relating to accurately capturing performance data. When the LIMS was implemented in FY2012, TAT work order processing data was used for trending, however, accuracy of the data fell out of focus due to operational demands. In anticipation of LIMS data availability for future budget years the Laboratory instituted process controls ensuring the accuracy of data for targeted performance metrics. Implementation of this performance measure in FY2020 reflects the Department's ability to better identify, target, and track the laboratory's throughput annually.

Target #3: All livestock and poultry entering Alaska have current health permits. Methodology: The Office of the State Veterinarian tracks permits issued in a log book. These numbers were compared to the total number of livestock and poultry presented for entry at the Canadian Border without Alaska permit numbers according to USDA's records. Analysis of results and challenges: Domestic pets (dog, cats, pet birds, and pocket pets) and livestock (cattle, bison, yaks, horses, pigs, sheep and goats) entering the State of Alaska must have a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or Health Certificate. In addition, all livestock and poultry imports are required to be accompanied by an importation permit that is issued by the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV). In FY2021, the total number of domestic pet imports was 5,628 and the total number of livestock and poultry import permits issued was 1,982 which represented 109,967 animals. For livestock there were 185 imports containing 730 individual animals, and there were 1,797 import shipments of poultry that contained 109,237 individual birds. 40 non-compliant CVIs were identified; 20 of these were electronically delivered to the OSV prior to the animal being shipped which allowed for veterinarians to immediately be contacted so the CVI could be corrected before animals shipped. The other 20 CVIs sent via US mail were identified after the animal arrived, and veterinarians were contacted and notified of the infraction or error on the document and instructed on the proper compliance regulation. A person importing animals to Alaska must have them examined by an accredited veterinarian. The OSV issues the importation permit to the veterinarian to ensure the disease testing requirements were met. The permit process gives the OSV early notice of imports and minimizes the risk of importing animals with infectious/contagious diseases or parasites of concern, thus protecting both domestic animals and the state's wildlife resources. The high rate of compliance reflects the efforts to coordinate with federal agencies (USDA, CDC, and Customs and Border Patrol) and other states, as well as the outreach efforts taken to inform animal importers, brokers, and animal owners of Alaska's importation requirements. Health certificates for poultry and livestock entering the state are required to be sent to the OSV within seven days for review, and to validate the information on the import permit that all animals have met regulatory requirements. Animals enter the state through various land, air, and seaports along the border, monitored by federal authorities, but the federal officials do not enforce State entry requirements, which are often more restrictive. The State coordinates with federal agencies and is notified when imports cross the ports, obtaining any federal movement permit information. If animals enter Alaska without meeting State import requirements, an investigation is initiated and the owner of the animal(s) is contacted, as well as the veterinarian who issued the health certificate. Appropriate action is taken to resolve the issue which may involve imposing a quarantine, performing an examination, and collecting samples for diagnostic testing. If an animal is diagnosed with an infectious or contagious disease, the OSV will perform an epidemiologic investigation, track the animal's point of origin, and inform counterparts in other states or countries to control and mitigate the spread of the disease. The electronic permit system can be invaluable during these investigations as this data must be accessible in a rapid and efficient manner. The Department also participates in trace exercises with the USDA, and other states and Canadian animal health officials on a regular basis, to validate that animal shipments can be effectively tracked.

Target #1: All Alaskans served by a public water system are served by systems in compliance with health-based standards. Methodology: The information reflected in this table is provided on an annual basis by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after the end of each federal fiscal year (typically October). The numbers being reported are the number of Community Water Systems that are in compliance with the EPA defined health-based standards (Treatment Technique, Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, and Maximum Contaminant Level requirements). Analysis of results and challenges: In 1978, the State of Alaska was delegated primacy for implementation of the Public Water System Supervision program and began the adoption and implementation of Safe Drinking Water Act requirements to address the threat of waterborne disease and provide for the protection of public health. Community water systems (CWS) are a subset of federally regulated public water systems (PWS) and are required to be in compliance with the various health-based standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act. These standards are designed to protect people from consuming unsafe drinking water and establish limits for many chemical and radiological contaminants, as well as microbiological (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) contaminants. During FFY2020, Alaska had a decrease of CWS in compliance with the health-based standards compared to the prior year. This decrease can likely be attributed to the challenges of the global pandemic, particularly in rural regions that were impacted by travel restrictions and limited flight service. The Department of Environmental Conservation's Drinking Water program offers a two-pronged approach of compliance assistance and enforcement for Alaska's PWS, allowing staff to have appropriate oversight with the intent of serving safe drinking water on a consistent basis to as many people as possible. The increasing number of complex federal drinking water rules, such as the Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection By-Products Rules, the Ground Water Rule, and the Revised Total Coliform Rules, all continue to challenge the resources of both the Department and PWS owners and operators.

Target #2: All public water systems submit required sanitary surveys according to their designated schedule. Methodology: Number of active public water systems that do not have an overdue sanitary survey. Analysis of results and challenges: The Department of Environmental Conservation provides oversight of the Sanitary Survey program which provides onsite reviews of the source water, treatment facilities and equipment, and the operations and maintenance procedures of Alaska's public water systems (PWS). This information is used to evaluate the adequacy of a system and helps determine if the water system is producing and distributing safe drinking water. A thoroughly completed sanitary survey should identify any deficiencies in the system. The system operator is required to take appropriate corrective actions to fix deficiencies identified from the sanitary survey. The Department is responsible for the training and approval of Sanitary Survey Inspectors, as well as enforcement actions on those PWS that have overdue sanitary surveys. Inspector training and approval is provided for both State and third-party sanitary survey inspectors. Third party inspectors complete most sanitary surveys annually. Most waterborne disease outbreaks are caused by bacteria or other microorganisms, and routine testing for bacteriological contaminants is one of the best ways to make sure that drinking water is safe. An important part of the Total Coliform Rule and the subsequent Ground Water Rule are the requirements that all federally regulated PWS have a periodic sanitary survey completed for their entire water system. In FY2021, approximately 86 percent of Alaska's public water systems were in compliance with their sanitary survey requirement. This is a decrease from last year which can be attributed to the travel restrictions and social distancing measures imposed in 2020 during the global pandemic. The Drinking Water Program developed a virtual Sanitary Survey process during this time and was able to complete a small number of surveys using this method.

Current as of November 12, 2021