171 



If you look at his data, his data starts in 1960 and goes to 1990, 

 and the data that he shows is really consistent with trie data that 

 we have at the park. The trend is that from 1940 to 1970, visibility 

 became worse from that 120 to 150, to 6 to 10, then from 1970 to 

 1980, it actually improved, and from the 1980's to current condi- 

 tions, it has gone back down to what it was in 1970. 



The data that we have at the park at Shenandoah, the sulfate 

 data and the sulfates, by the way, demonstrates that it is not vege- 

 tation and all these other things that Mr. Michaels suggested 

 might be causing the degradation. 



Mr. Synar. Killer trees? 



Mr. Malm. Not killer trees. In the summertime, sulfates make 

 up about 70 percent of the visibility impairment, on the average. 

 It can be higher, it can be lower, but on the average, 70 percent 

 sulfates, the precursor being sulphur dioxide emissions mostly from 

 power plants. That has also been shown historically to be the 

 trend, the relationship between SO2 emissions and reduced visi- 

 bility. In any case, visibility improves between 1970 and 1980, and 

 afterwards visibility decreases again to current conditions. 



Our sulfate data in Shenandoah shows the same trend. We only 

 have data from 1983 to 1993. From 1983 to 1993, we show an in- 

 crease in sulfate. And that is consistent, for instance, with the 

 Lynchburg data which shows that the visual ranges have gone 

 from a high in 1980 and now back down to what they were in the 

 1970's. 



[Subsequent to the hearing, the Department of the Interior sub- 

 mitted clarification on this issue in a letter dated July 8, 1994, 

 which can be found in the appendix.] 



Mr. Synar. Thank you for that explanation. 



Mr. Frampton, clearly visibility is important, but why isn't it on 

 your list of 12 points for renewing parks? 



Mr. Frampton. On our list of— sorry? 



Mr. Synar. Your list of 12 points for renewing parks. It is not 

 even on that list. 



Mr. Frampton. Well 



Mr. SYNAR. If it is so important, why isn't it a high priority in 

 the top 12? 



Mr. Frampton. Mr. Chairman, I don't know what you are refer- 

 ring to. 



Mr. Synar. It is the Secretary's 12-point program for renewing 

 the national parks. 



Mr. Frampton. Well, we have been involved over the last 3 or 

 4 months in developing a parks initiative for the administration 

 which is not completed yet. 



Mr. Synar. Well, first of all, it is not one of your high priorities 

 according to your own director. 



Let me ask you this, why has the Park Service abandoned such 

 a large percentage of the air quality monitors? 



Mr. FRAMPTON. Well, Mr. Chairman, I will ask Mr. Christiano to 

 respond to that. 



But let me say that on the budget issue, that the figures that I 

 have indicate that over the last 5 or 6 years the total budget, Park 

 Service and Fish and Wildlife Service — and now a small piece of 

 that went to National Biological Survey for the Air Quality Divi- 



