169 



acid deposition in snowpack. We are monitoring about 2V2 times 

 higher than anywhere else in the State in that area. It has been 

 our determination that the amount of precip or the amount of hy- 

 drogen ion concentration that we are monitoring there is probably 

 causing impacts to our most sensitive aquatic ecosystems. 



So based on this information and the visibility information, our 

 emission inventory information, and some modeling that was done, 

 we felt it was reasonable to believe that those two power plants 

 were causing or contributing to adverse impacts in the wilderness. 



One other thing that I will show 



Mr. Synar. How do those plants contrast with the ones that are 

 regulated? 



Mr. Haddow. OK, there are plants in Colorado and many other 

 States that are much better controlled, even in Wyoming. 



Mr. Synar. New plants can be controlled up to 90 percent; can't 

 they? 



Mr. Haddow. Yes, they can. 



Mr. Synar. These aren't, though? 



Mr. Haddow. That is true. 



Mr. Synar. Go ahead. 



Mr. Haddow. OK. 



I wanted to mention this one slide very quickly — if you look at 

 sulfur isotopes, the ratio between sulfur 32 and sulfur 34, you can 

 determine perhaps where that sulfur is coming from, is it regional 

 in nature. The industry said, that is all the sulfur in all of the 

 whole Western United States funneled through the Yampa Valley, 

 and we determined that is probably not the case. 



By looking at sulfur isotope ratios, it appears to be a very local- 

 ized source of sulfate causing that impact in that area. Based on 

 that, we did certify impairment to the Governor and are moving 

 ahead on a reasonable attribution study. 



Mr. Synar. Thank you for that. 



Now, Ms. Backiel, if you convinced the State to go along, how 

 long will it take you to get BART controls applied? 



Ms. Backiel. Do you know, Dennis? 



Mr. Haddow. Currently, we are working with the State of Colo- 

 rado to determine, to finish a reasonable attribution study, and we 

 are trying to work cooperatively, but we are getting 



Mr. Synar. Who is financing that study? 



Mr. Haddow. To date, all of the work that has been done has 

 been financed by the State and EPA, USGS has put dollars into 

 that. We are hoping that industry will put money into that — oh, 

 and the Forest Service. 



Mr. Synar. How long will it take you to put the controls in place 

 if you get an agreement? 



Mr. Haddow. OK, to finish the study, if we get an agreement, 

 we are hoping that it can be done within 2 years under the State 

 process. 



Mr. Synar. OK. Where are we right now? It is a political football 

 out there. Where is the football right now? 



Mr. Haddow. The situation right now is that we are trying to 

 work cooperatively to set up a study plan, but there have been bills 

 introduced into the Colorado Legislature which would make it dif- 

 ficult, if not impossible to finish the study. 



