180 



Ms. Nichols. And I can get back to you with the schedule that 

 is currently contemplated on that. 



Mr. Synar. All right. 



Isn't it true that the entire EPA visibility program is just really 

 two people, one of whom is leaving. I am not talking about people 

 who are doing the visibility work part time as a part of a group 

 of other responsibilities, I am talking about how many people work 

 strictly on visibility? 



Ms. Nichols. It is correct to say that the actual full-time employ- 

 ment on visibility alone is as you have stated it, but I really think 

 it is important to emphasize 



Mr. Synar. Who is that person? 



Ms. Nichols. The individual is present here today. He can stand 

 up, if you would like. 



Mr. Synar. What is his name? I want to see the whole program. 



Ms. Nichols. And he is doing, if I might add 



Mr. Synar. It is not every day that you can see the whole pro- 

 gram. 



Ms. Nichols. No, if I may say so, he is doing the work of more 

 than one person. 



Mr. Synar. How do you expect him to do all this? 



Ms. Nichols. Frankly, I don't. I think we need to supplement his 

 work in a number of ways, and I think without undermining the 

 importance of the visibility work, I really think it is important for 

 you to recognize that the work of people in other programs, includ- 

 ing the Acid Rain Program and our Office of Air Quality Planning 

 and Standards that is devoted to visibility-related work is an im- 

 portant part of what this individual is going to be able to accom- 

 plish. But we are also looking to supplement the resources through 

 some internal shifts as well. 



Mr. Synar. You heard Ms. Shaver's testimony. She believes there 

 are things that EPA can do within existing law to provide more 

 protection. She, for example, recommended EPA initiate a regional 

 ozone transport commission to deal with the interrelationship be- 

 tween urban ozone nonattainment and ozone problems in rural 

 areas like Shenandoah. Are you studying this idea? 



Ms. Nichols. Yes, I am actually. I have raised this question in 

 several recent meetings I have had with Governors and other air 

 quality officials who have expressed frustration about transport is- 

 sues. I think for the moment, we are optimistic, although again we 

 are cautiously optimistic that the voluntary efforts of States that 

 came together to form SAMI are an indication of a serious desire 

 on their part to address this issue. 



We would much prefer, and I think the Administrator would pre- 

 fer, to act on ozone transport region petitions that come from those 

 who are going to be put into those regions as opposed to forcing 

 those types of actions directly, because I think it is more likely to 

 be effective that way. But it is certainly an option that does exist 

 in the law. 



Mr. Synar. She also recommends using revisions of the national 

 ambient air quality standards as a way to access pollution effects. 

 When will you all be revising those standards other than the PM- 

 10? 



Ms. Nichols. The PM-10 question is 



