Strong, quick legislation called for

Strong, quick legislation called for

Clean air advocates with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, National Parks Conservation Association, Southern Environmental Law Center, Environmental Defense, and Clean Air Task Force responded to the release of the Southern Appalachian Mountains Initiative final report with mixed reviews.

"The SAMI results offer solid evidence of how serious our air quality concerns are across the region, but the limitations of the consensus process leave decision-makers without clear directives for how to implement change," said Don Barger, southeast regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association.

The Southern Appalachian Mountains Initiative was formed as a voluntary coalition of eight states including Tennessee to quantify air pollution levels and pollution sources in Class I national parks and wilderness areas in the southeast United States as well as provide recommendations to remedy existing and prevent future deterioration to air quality.

SAMI estimated the impacts and air quality benefits of a variety of emissions controls scenarios. The SAMI analyses showed that significant reductions in sulfur dioxides and other pollutants are needed to clear the air and all states have agreed on the need for these significant reductions, advocates say.

"A powerful conclusion that policy makers should take from the SAMI technical analysis is that most of the Southeast's pollution problems are homegrown, so pollution reductions in a particular state will benefit that state most," said Dr. Bruce Hill, Clean Air Task Force senior scientist. "States would be wise to follow North Carolina's lead and protect their own people from the impacts of local air pollution sources, but where they fail to do so federal legislation will be needed to ensure that all southerners receive the protection they deserve."

"States would be wise to follow North Carolina's lead and protect their own people from the impacts of local air pollution sources, but where they fail to do so federal legislation will be needed to ensure that all southerners receive the protection they deserve."

Scientist Bruce Hill

Despite a recognition that Southern states need to take more initiative for homegrown pollution, advocates recognize the political difficulty of achieving as much success with legislative initiatives as North Carolina did recently. A more comprehensive solution to the problem of national power plant emissions is needed, but the legislation must be strong and on a fast track for emission reductions, advocates say.

"It is clear from the SAMI results that the president's plan for power plant reductions does not do enough to protect the Smokies," said Stephen Smith of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "We need very strong, immediate reductions in pollution and Clear Skies won't get us there. Southern governors need to support only actions that will truly protect our parks and public health."

Since 1998, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has experienced over 178 "bad" ozone days. There has been 36 bad air quality days since May from ozone pollution.