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impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Nevertheless, the following 

 general conclusions can be made. Tropospheric ozone currently 

 adversely affects most terrestrial ecosystems in the eastern United 

 States and in southern California. Sulfur deposition adversely 

 affects many lakes and streams in the central and northern Appalachian 

 areas, noteably in West Virginia, Virginia, Vermont and in north 

 central Colorado. Mercury deposition has contaminated the habitat and 

 the fish populations in the northern tier lakes to the extent that 

 restrictions on human consumption have been imposed. Haze caused by 

 human generated pollutants is present in every wilderness monitored. 



Detail the Department's relationship with the State of Colorado with 

 regard to issuance of State facility permits which may impact air 

 quality at the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. Describe the Department's 

 program for protecting air quality at the site including any meetings 

 with utility or environmental groups. 



The Forest Service formally certified the impairment of visibility and 

 aquatic ecosystems in the Mt . Zirkel Wilderness to the State of 

 Colorado on July 14, 1993. Technical information indicated that it 

 was reasonable to conclude air pollutants were impairing both 

 visibility and aquatic ecosystems within the Mt . Zirkel Wilderness. 

 While the responsibility to protect wilderness from human caused 

 impacts, such as air pollution lies with the Forest Service, the 

 authority to require air pollution sources to reduce their emissions 

 is held by the State of Colorado. 



The State of Colorado must next determine "resonable attribution". 

 That is, the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, in cooperation 

 with the Forest Service and any other interested parties, can initiate 



