EPA Expected To Propose Air Pollution Cuts From Power Plants

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to announce today a proposed program that would slash air pollution from power plants and other industrial sources to begin restoring clear vistas in premier national parks.

EPA’s expected action would propose a 90% reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from “grandfathered” power plants and collectively could reduce emissions of this contaminant by approximately 6 million tons a year. The expected initiative would reduce the haze in national parks like the Great Smokies, Grand Canyon, Shenandoah, Acadia, Yellowstone, and Yosemite; cut the harmful levels of fine particles that cause serious respiratory problems for millions of Americans; and help protect sensitive ecosystems from the harmful effects of acid rain.

“This initiative would yield not one but several major societal benefits. It would help cut the haze air pollution in our national parks, produce healthier air in our cities, and protect sensitive ecosystems from acid rain,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton. “The initiative is based on sound science, sound economics and a sound reading of the law. We urge the Bush Administration to support and promptly finalize this cost-effective and highly beneficial clean air program.”

On Earth Day 1999, EPA announced a new program to clean up the haze air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas. The program established the framework for state air quality plans to restore clear vistas to national parks within 65 years. EPA also committed to issue guidelines to the states governing the clean up of large “grandfathered” power plants and other industrial sources that contribute to haze air pollution in national parks.

EPA?s expected action would propose regulatory guidelines requiring power plants and other large sources built between 1962-1977 to install the “best available retrofit technology” to reduce contaminants that contribute to air pollution in national parks. These sources are singled out by the Clean Air Act because they were not required to install state-of-the-art air pollution control technology when originally constructed. The initiative would allow the affected sources to achieve pollution cuts through the installation of control technology, or through a regionwide cap on pollution that is achieved through more flexible, market-based mechanisms.