Dateline: 06/25/01

President Bush on Friday (June 22, 2001) gave his final approval for the EPA to proceed with new federal regulations intended to protect the breathtaking visual vistas at dozens of national parks and wilderness areas, like in the smog-plagued Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

The national park visibility protection proposal, also known as the "BART" rule, tightens standards for repair and expansion for existing coal-fired power plants, the facilities most often blamed for polluting the air and reducing visibility in national parks.

The BART rule (Best Available Retrofit Technology), nearly identical to the plan first put forward by President Clinton, was delayed until EPA completed an energy impact analysis required in a May 18 Executive Order directing all federal agencies to prepare an energy impact statement on any major regulatory action. EPA has determined that this proposal is not likely to have an adverse effect on supply, distribution or use of energy.

The proposed regulations amend EPA's 1999 regional haze rules used in assisting state and tribal air quality agencies in deciding which facilities must install air pollution controls and the types of controls to be installed. Over the years, visitors to national parks and wilderness areas including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone have reported reduced visibility due to haze-causing emissions from older power plants and industrial facilities.

The Amendments also called on states to require these older plants to install best air pollution controls available.

According to the EPA, the BART rules could go into effect in as little as 60-days following public hearings and comment periods.

Like other air pollution-fighting rules, the BART rules will fall under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

Environmental protection groups, who have criticized President Bush as favoring business and energy industry needs over environmental quality have taken a "wait-and-see" stance on the BART rules.

Frank O'Donnell, executive director of the Clean Air Trust environmental group, is quoted in a Reuters report of June 22 as stating his group had to see results before accepting the President Bush's BART rules as a "mirror" of those put forth by President Clinton. 

"It's still a proposal, and it could go under change before the rule becomes final,'' O'Donnell said. "It's something that we will reserve judgment on until we see the final product."

The proposed BART rule can be viewed or downloaded from the EPA Web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/ramain.html

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