Alaska Congressman Nick Begich has introduced a bill to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System (NVEWS) through 2030—keeping funding and federal focus in place for tracking volcanic activity across the country, including Alaska’s most active peaks.
“Alaska is home to more than 130 volcanoes, and many of them are active,” Begich said in a statement. “Their potential impact on aviation, energy, and communities in Alaska is significant. Reauthorizing this system ensures we stay prepared and proactive.”
NVEWS was originally created in 2019 through the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. It was designed to improve volcano monitoring, boost data collection, and strengthen emergency response coordination. The new bill keeps the program structure and funding levels intact but includes technical updates and extends the system another five years.
The timing is notable. Mount Spurr, an active volcano located just 80 miles west of Anchorage, has recently shown signs of unrest. A future eruption could dump volcanic ash on nearby Tyonek and possibly into Anchorage and the Mat-Su depending on the wind. That kind of ashfall can seriously impact aviation—especially in rural parts of the state where air travel is essential for supplies and emergency medical access.
The reauthorization supports the U.S. Geological Survey’s work to modernize volcano monitoring equipment and improve coordination between federal, state, and local emergency agencies.
Begich called the move “a smart investment in safety and commonsense governance.”