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Visibility Transport Commission 4 , and other atmospheric research 

 related to visibility impairment. 



Since fiscal year 1991, visibility funding levels have 

 fluctuated between $5.5 and $6.6 million. According to EPA and 

 the Park Service, the reguested funds for fiscal year 1995 are 

 about $4.6 million. According to EPA officials, the decrease is 

 due to a reduction in visibility research by EPA's Office of 

 Research and Development, in favor of higher priority health 

 related research. However, officials note that some of this 

 research--on small particulates--has application to visibility 

 problems. Furthermore, EPA and Park Service officials are 

 doubtful that the agencies will receive the resources needed for 

 future years because of overall budget constraints and 

 competition with other higher priority programs. 



Ironically, although overall program funding increased, 

 support for air guality monitoring in class I areas actually 

 decreased following enactment of the 1990 Clean Air Act 

 Amendments. The data from visibility monitors support research 

 projects and are useful in identifying the sources and types of 

 pollutants that are impacting visibility in class I areas. Yet, 

 the Park Service's funding for monitoring was reduced by more 

 than 37 percent during fiscal years 1991-94. As a result, the 

 number of visibility monitoring sites in class I areas was 

 reduced by 40 percent, dropping from 62 to 37. With fewer 

 monitors, the Park Service has less data to demonstrate the 

 impact that pollutants have on visibility. 



4 The Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission is responsible for 

 assessing the impact of long distance transport of pollutants on the 

 visibility of the Grand Canyon National Park and other class I areas in 

 southwestern states and recommending measures to improve visibility in these 

 areas. 



