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larly in the East. But we are also implementing other major regu- 

 latory programs that will achieve unprecedented reductions in 

 emissions of ozone precursors and particulates. 



EPA established and is working with the Grand Canyon commis- 

 sion to look at the Colorado Plateau. The commission is to report 

 by November 1995, and EPA has provided substantial support to 

 this commission, much of it provided by an $8.5 million effort 

 called project mojave which, among other things, will estimate re- 

 gional source impacts on the Grand Canyon Park as well as other 

 nearby class I areas. 



We have also formed a subcommittee to review issues related to 

 reform of the new source permitting process under the existing pre- 

 vention of significant deterioration regulations. And I would just 

 like to comment that we are putting that committee on a time 

 schedule. They have been told their recommendations are due by 

 June and that EPA will proceed with recommendations for reform- 

 ing the new source review process, including some consideration of 

 the PSD issue and the impact of existing sources on class I areas, 

 regardless of whether the committee reaches consensus in a timely 

 manner or not. 



EPA also helped to form and fund the Southern Appalachian 

 Mountain initiative, SAMI, to address other class I concerns in that 

 region. 



Mr. Chairman, despite the improvements we expect from the var- 

 ious ongoing programs we have described, we believe new initia- 

 tives are needed to address the remaining air quality problems in 

 class I areas. In order to be prepared to move as quickly as possible 

 once we have received the recommendation of the Grand Canyon 

 commission, we plan to initiate the technical activities needed to 

 support a regional haze rulemaking so we will be ready to fulfill 

 our statutory responsibilities. 



The immediate effort will focus on developing the technical tools 

 such as models and monitoring techniques for regional planning to 

 address haze in all class I areas. 



Based on the program recommendations from the Grand Canyon 

 Visibility Transport Commission when those are completed in No- 

 vember 1995, as well as the work of SAMI, we will develop a strat- 

 egy to address regional haze impairment in all class I areas. 



In addressing the different regional problems, we plan to bring 

 various constituencies together to explore alternative approaches, 

 including nonregulatory options where appropriate. 



With respect to the damage caused by ground level ozone or 

 smog in class I area ecosystems, we will incorporate the technical 

 information about such damage into our ongoing review of the na- 

 tional ambient air quality standard for ozone. 



I have also directed my staff to explore the effectiveness of a 

 short term, probably 24-hour nitrogen oxide increment in the pre- 

 vention of significant deterioration program to address ecosystem 

 effects of nitrogen loading as well as its possible effects on the for- 

 mation of ozone. 



Finally, I have asked my staff in each of our program offices to 

 consider protection of class I areas as part of their ongoing regu- 

 latory activities. By building on existing programs, we believe that 

 we may be able to leverage our resources and bring about improve- 



