Three governors unite against smog

Three governors unite against smog

By DUNCAN MANSFIELD
Associated Press

GATLINBURG — Acknowledging that pollution is not confined to any single state, the governors of Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia agreed Friday to work together to clear the region's air.

"We will encourage others to join us," Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist said after signing an accord with Govs. Michael Easley of North Carolina and Roy Barnes of Georgia.

"This is a real challenge to the Southeastern United States," Easley said. "It is our responsibility as a region, not just as a state, to stand up and try to reach a solution."

Rapid growth in the Southeast has fueled the smog problem. Pollutants from cars, industry and coal-fired power plants have left many across the region wheezing.

In response, Barnes, Sundquist and Easley signed a "Southern Air Principles" pact to cap the third annual governors' summit on mountain air quality.

The conference, attended by some 250 delegates from throughout the Southeast, was held for the first time in this gateway city to the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park in the country and one of the most polluted.

The accord stipulates that "each state must do its part to protect and improve air quality."

Yet, it goes on to say that "regional air quality problems must be addressed through regional approaches that address each state's unique qualities and needs."

The accord takes a broad approach and addresses several pollutant sources: nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and mercury — all coal-fired power plant pollutants — as well as transportation and energy policies.

Smokies Superintendent Mike Tollefson said he was surprised to see support for air quality, particularly for the Smokies park on the Tennessee-North Carolina border.

"I came here expecting an uphill battle and instead have found that everyone agrees with the issue and we are moving forward on it," he said.

Environmentalists praised the intent but questioned the pact's impact since it is an administrative document that carries no legislative weight.

"We need action now," said Stephen Smith, director of the Knoxville-based Southern Coalition for Clean Energy. "We have talked about this enough."

But Barnes said, "You have got to start somewhere. You just can't wring your hands and say this is not going to solve everything on day one, and so therefore we don't do anything."

The accord lacks specifics. Recommendations are to come from the states' top environmental officers by March 15, 2002.

But the governors suggested it could lead to regional coordination of environmental regulation, affecting everything from auto emissions testing to regional fuel standards.

"Air pollution sources, including power plants, emit multiple pollutants that, traditionally, have been independently regulated," Sundquist said. "We believe that the time has come to address these pollutants in a comprehensive way."

The Tennessee Valley Authority, the country's largest publicly owned utility, has embarked on a billion-dollar program to reduce emissions from its power plants — pollutants that North Carolina claims are affecting its air as well.

"I believe TVA has made a lot of progress," Sundquist said, but added, "It is not enough. They need to speed up that process."

TVA Director Skila Harris, also attending the conference, said she shared Sundquist's "sense that there is an urgency about air quality."

As for the governors' accord, she said, "TVA is looking for more certainty (in regulation). We would like to plan better for our emission controls, and we want TVA to be treated fairly."