VISIBILITY PROTECTION IN NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDERNESS AREAS: FEDERAL LAND MANAGER PERSPECTIVE

• Jurisdiction: United States

Air Quality Challenges Facing the Natural Resources Industry in the Western United States
(Nov 2007)
CHAPTER 8C
VISIBILITY PROTECTION IN NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDERNESS AREAS: FEDERAL LAND MANAGER PERSPECTIVE
Chris Shaver
Air Resources Division
National Park Service
Denver, Colorado

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Not-so Grand Canyon

Benefits of Parks

• Recreational visits (FY 2005): 272,605,876

• Local spending by visitors & NPS employees: 〉$10 billion

• Local jobs supported: 236,500

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Air Quality in National Parks and Wilderness Areas: Relevant Mandates

"...conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein...as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." (NPS Organic Act)

"Wilderness areas...shall be administered for the use of the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness..." (Wilderness Act of 1964)

"...preserve, protect and enhance the air quality in national parks, national wilderness areas, national monuments, national seashores, and other areas of special national or regional natural, recreational, scenic, or historic value." (Clean Air Act as amended in 1977)

National Visibility Goal

• "Congress hereby declares as national goal the prevention of any future, and the remedying of any existing, impairment of visibility in mandatory class I federal areas which impairment results from manmade air pollution." Clean Air Act, Section 169A(a)(1); 42 USC 7491

• EPA can't be sued if goal is not met by specific date.

• State Implementation Plans must demonstrate "reasonable progress" toward the goal. 42 usc 7491(b)(2) .

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Plume Blight

Layered Hazes at Multiple Parks

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Legislative History

"Impairment of visibility is the single most apparent impact air pollution has on the environment. It is our intent that aggressive steps be taken to reduce the eyesore which has defaced our grand vistas in the West." 123 Cong. Rec. 27,076 (1977)(Waxman statement)

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BART

• Each major stationary source constructed between 1962-1977 which (as determined by that State or EPA) emits any air pollutant which may reasonably be anticipated to cause or contribute to any impairment of visibility in any class I area shall procure, install, and operate, as expeditiously as practicable (〈5 years) the best available retrofit...