63 



n 



would include a requirement to obtain offsetting emission 

 reductions. 



EPA AND FLMs HUST HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCE TO CARRY OUT 'THEIR 

 RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT AIR QUALITY RELATED VALUES 



Information provides a foundation for rational decision- 

 making. The data that exist regarding ambient air quality levels, 

 visibility conditions, and effects on sensitive terrestrial and 

 aquatic resources in many national parks provide a rational basis 

 for determining whether adverse impacte are occurring or likely to 

 occur. The pollutants that cause the impacts can also be 

 identified, and mathematical models are available to establish 

 source/receptor relationships and support development of remedial 

 and preventive pollution control strategies. K . 



However, additional information is needed to assess current 

 conditions and establish cause and affect relationships in many 

 national parks and wilderness areas. These information needs and 

 associatsd financial resource requirements were discussed in the 

 1990 report of the General Accounting Office submitted to this 

 Subcommittee. Congress has not yet appropriated funding to the 

 FLMs to respond to these needs. In the interim, the National Park 

 Service, which has historically exhibited the higheet degree of 

 commitment to gathering and analyzing data on air pollution 

 conditions and effects, has had to discontinue operetion of several 

 monitoring stations because of resource constraints. Congress must 

 provide the FLMs with the resources they need to inventory air 

 quality related values, monitor air quality conditions (including 

 visibility) , conduct rssearch to assess the causes and effects of 

 air pollution, and participate effectively in permitting and 

 regulatory decisions. 



Similarly, EPA must have eufficient resources to carry out 

 the responsibility it shires with FLMs to protect AQRVs in class 

 I areae. Research and staff resourcee are needed to support EPA's 

 standard-setting and regulatory development efforts. To the extent 

 EPA has delegated responsibilities regional commissions, these 

 groups must also have sufficient funding to support their work. 



SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS 



EPA must develop regional haze regulations that include specific 

 emission reduction requirements to achieve reasonable progress 

 toward the national goal of remedying existing and preventing 

 future human-caused visibility impairment in Class I areas. EPA 

 must also ensure that current regulations ere enforced. 



If regional commissions are established to address pollution 

 problems in national parks and wildernees areae, the overriding 

 national interest in protscting these resources mandates that the 

 commissions be given clear objectivee, reasonable deadlines, 



