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WHITMAN APPLAUDS EFFORTS OF WESTERN STATES AND TRIBES TO IMPROVE SCENIC VISTAS IN NATIONAL PARKS

Release Date: 04/25/2002
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Environmental News

Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve a plan to reduce the haze-causing pollutants that obscure many of the Western United States’ most celebrated scenic views. The provisions of the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) Annex Plan plan were developed by several western states, tribes, and interest groups that are part of the WRAP. This partnership works to protect the visibility of such areas such as the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Canyonlands and to improve air quality in the western United States.

“I want to applaud all of the representatives from the state, local, and tribal air quality agencies, environmental organizations and business community who have worked diligently to make this partnership work,” EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said. “You have demonstrated that environmental regulators, affected businesses, and environmental groups can work together to find mutually acceptable solutions to air quality problems. I believe the plan that the partnership has presented is an innovative approach to improving air quality and EPA shares WRAP’s goals of protecting some of America’s most treasured national parks and wilderness areas.”

In September 2000, the WRAP submitted to EPA a plan containing recommendations for implementing EPA's regional haze rule in the Western United States. Specifically, the plan recommends a series of regional emissions reduction milestones for sulfur dioxide (SO2), a key compound in the formation of fine particles and regional haze. The plan also defines an emissions allowance trading program for nine Western states and eligible Indian tribes that would be a “backstop” to ensure that emission milestones are met.

Under the plan, states and tribes would collect annual emission reports and use them to develop an emissions total for the region. If the regional total exceeds the annual milestone, the emissions allowance market trading program would be triggered to ensure that emission reduction milestones and visibility goals are met.

Currently, industrial facilities in the region covered by the WRAP emit approximately 650,000 tons per year of SO2. By 2018, this proposal would reduce emissions by nearly one third.

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to protect visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas.
This proposal would amend EPA’s 1999 regional haze rule to include the provisions of this plan. Nine states participating in the WRAP, and tribes within this geographic region, would be eligible to participate in this program.

The President’s Clear Skies initiative would use a mandatory market-based cap and trade approach to significantly reduce power-plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and mercury. The Clear Skies initiative recognizes that there are regional differences throughout the country and that the Clear Skies initiative and the WRAP Annex plan proposed today can work together to improve visibility and protect public health in the western United States.

Haze is caused when sunlight encounters very small pollution particles in the air. Some light is absorbed by particles. Other light is scattered away before it reaches an observer. More pollutants mean more absorption and scattering of light, which reduces the clarity and color of what we see. Some types of particles such as sulfates scatter more light, particularly during humid conditions.

The same pollution that causes haze has also been found to pose serious health risks, especially for people with chronic respiratory diseases.

WRAP participants include:

Western states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, California, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Western tribes: Pueblo of Acoma, Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Cortina Indian Rancheria, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Nation of the Grand Canyon, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Salish and Kootenai Confederated Tribes, Pueblo of San Felipe, and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall.

Federal participants: U.S. Department of Agruculture, U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA is non-voting member of the WRAP board).

EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. In addition to accepting written comments, EPA will hold one public hearing this summer in Phoenix, Arizona to accept oral testimony from interested members of the public. The meeting is scheduled for early June.

To download a copy of today’s proposed rule from EPA’s Web site, go to “Recent Actions” at:
https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/ramain.html and to read a copy of the Regional Haze Rule, go to: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/fr_notices/rhfedreg.pdf.

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