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FACT SHEETS--PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRES. GORE ANNOUNCES NEW NATIONAL STRATEGY TO RESTORE PRISTINE SKIES IN NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDERNESS AREAS

Release Date: 04/22/99
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PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
               CLEARING THE AIR IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS
                           April 22, 1999

Today, Vice President Gore commemorates Earth Day by traveling to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to announce new federal efforts to improve air quality in our national parks and wilderness areas. The new "regional haze" rule aims to restore pristine skies and unspoiled views at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Acadia and the Great Smoky Mountains national parks, and other natural treasures that draw 290 million visitors a year.

Hazy Skies, Spoiled Views. Air pollution from power plants, cars and factories travels hundreds or thousands of miles to some of our country's most remote lands, creating serious air pollution problems in many national parks and federal wilderness areas. During much of the year, a veil of white or brown haze hangs over many parks, obscuring some of our most famous scenic vistas. This haze is caused primarily by tiny particles in the air that absorb and scatter sunlight, reducing the clarity and color of what we see.

   In the Grand Canyon, haze on some days reduces visibility from 128 miles to 68 miles, a loss
   of nearly 50 percent. Other examples: Acadia (from 74 to 19 miles), Glacier (from 84 to 35
   miles), Great Smoky Mountains (from 55 to 15 miles), Mount Rainier (from 103 to 21 miles),
   and Yosemite (from 132 to 41 miles).
    In addition to reducing visibility, pollutants such as soot and smog pose serious health risks, particularly to those suffering chronic respiratory disease. Air pollution also threatens park-related economic activity   visitors spend over $10 billion in national parks and surrounding communities, generating over 200,000 jobs.

Restoring Pristine Skies. One goal of the federal Clean Air Act is to eliminate impairments to visibility in national parks and wilderness areas resulting from manmade pollution. The new Environmental Protection Agency "regional haze" rule announced today represents a long-range
national strategy for achieving that goal. The rule:

     ÀÀ    Establishes the year 2064 as the timeframe for restoring visibility to natural conditions in
                  156 "Class 1" areas   37 national parks and 119 federal wilderness areas encompassing
                  17,076 square miles.
     
     ÀÀ  Requires states to submit successive 10-year plans describing efforts to achieve "reasonable
                progress."  The first plans are due from 2003 to 2008, depending on the region.
      Flexibility and Regional Cooperation. Many antipollution efforts already under way, including vehicle emissions controls and the tough new smog and soot standards announced by the Administration in 1997, will help reduce regional haze. The new rule   reflecting extensive input from states, industry, park visitors, and air quality experts   allows states flexibility to devise cost-effective strategies to improve visibility. In some cases, for instance, states can develop emissions trading programs instead of strict technology-based standards. The rule also encourages states to work in partnership, recognizing that in many areas regional approaches may work best.

          FADING VIEWS: AIR POLLUTION IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS
                           April 22, 1999
                                   A new "regional haze" measure announced today by Vice President Gore establishes a national strategy to improve air quality at national parks and wilderness areas so that visitors can enjoy unspoiled views of America's greatest natural treasures. Measurements taken by the Environmental Protection Agency over the last decade demonstrate how air pollution traveling hundreds or thousands of miles can seriously impair visibility, even in remote locations. The data below show, on average, how far visitors can see on clear days and on hazy days in selected parks and wildernesses.

                                                         Park/Wilderness                   Worst Day      Best Day       Visibility Lost
                                                         
                                                         Acadia National Park (ME)                   19.25 miles         74.1 miles               74%
                                                         Badlands National Park (SD)                 36.9 miles          101.7 miles              64%
                                                         Bandalier Wilderness Area (NM)                   65.45 miles              114.4 miles              43%
                                                         Big Bend National Park (TX)                 41.9 miles          104.25 miles             60%
                                                         Bryce Canyon National Park (UT)             65.6 miles          138 miles           52%
                                                         Boundary Waters Wilderness Area (MN)             28.15 miles              108.45 miles             74%
                                                         Bridger Wilderness Area (WA)                78.15 miles         156.3 miles              50%
                                                         Brigantine Wilderness Area (NJ)                  12.75 miles              42.15 miles              70%
                                                         Canyonlands National Park (UT)                   70.4 miles               125.6 miles              44%
                                                         Chiricahua Wilderness Area (AZ)                  60.8 miles               120.95 miles             50%
                                                         Crater Lake National Park (OR)                   59.2 miles               136.05    miles               56%
                                                         Denali National Park (AK)                   76 miles            139.25 miles             45%
                                                         Dolly Sods Wilderness Area (WV)             9.9 miles           46.55 miles              79%
                                                         Glacier National Park (MT)                  35.4 miles          83.7 miles               58%
                                                         Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)             68.15 miles         128.25 miles             47%
                                                         Great Basin National Park (NV)                   82.95 miles              153.4 miles              46%
                                                         Great Sand Dunes Wilderness Area (CO)       65.8 miles          124.25 miles             47%
                                                         Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN/NC)      14.6 miles               55.15 miles              74%
                                                         Guadalupe Mountains National Park (TX)      47 miles            98.85 miles              52%
                                                         Lassen Volcanic National Park (CA)               62.25 miles              144.75 miles             57%
                                                         Lye Brook Wilderness Area (VT)              16.7 miles          87.35 miles              81%
                                                         Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)             12.35 miles         38 miles            68%
                                                         Mesa Verde National Park (CO)                    71.75 miles              126.85 miles             43%
                                                         Mount Rainier National Park (WA)            20.8 miles          103.45 miles             80%
                                                         Okefenoke Wilderness Area (GA)                   16.45 miles              46.15 miles              64%
                                                         Petrified Forest National Park (AZ)              61.7 miles               111.7 miles              45%
                                                         Pinnacles Wilderness Area (CA)                   34.95 miles              81.9 miles               57%
                                                         Point Reyes Wilderness Area (CA)            22.65 miles         73.2 miles               70%
                                                         Redwood National Park (CA)                  29.75 miles         99.25 miles              70%
                                                         Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)           64 miles            142.55 miles             55%
                                                         San Gorgonio Wilderness Area (CA)           24.2 miles          112.65 miles             79%
                                                         Sequoia National Park (CA)                  25.25 miles         94.1 miles               73%
                                                         Shenandoah National Park (VA)                    11.05 miles              48 miles            77%
                                                         Simeonof Wilderness Area (AL)                    10.4 miles               34.45 miles              70%
                                                         Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area (AR)                         13.5 miles               53.4 miles                75%
                                                         Weminuche Wilderness Area (CO)              68.25 miles         142 miles           52%
                                                         Yellowstone National Park (WY/ID/MT)             72.1 miles               127.65 miles             44%
                                                         Yosemite National Park (CA)                 40.75 miles         131.8 miles              69%
                                                         

             PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
            LASTING PROTECTION FOR OUR NATURAL TREASURES
                           April 22, 1999

Today, in remarks at Shenandoah National Park commemorating Earth Day, Vice President Gore called on Congress to approve the President's Lands Legacy initiative and provide permanent funding to protect America's land and coastal resources. Lands Legacy, proposed as part of the President's FY 2000 budget, includes  $1 billion to protect natural treasures and help communities preserve local green spaces -- the largest one-year investment ever proposed for the protection of America's land and coastal resources. To sustain these efforts through the coming century, the President and Vice President also are calling for guaranteed funding of at least $1 billion a year.  

Preserving America's Lands Legacy. Over the past six years, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have worked to restore the Florida Everglades, protect Yellowstone from mining, preserve Utah's spectacular red-rock canyons, and save the ancient redwoods of California's Headwaters Forest. Lands
Legacy expands these efforts with $442 million for federal land acquisitions. Priorities include:

   ÀÀ   Mojave Desert - Acquiring 450,000 acres within and around Mojave and Joshua Tree National Parks.
   ÀÀ   New England Forests - Acquiring additional land within national forests and wildlife refuges in Maine, Vermont,
             New Hampshire and New York.
   ÀÀ   Everglades - Acquiring lands critical to ongoing federal-state restoration efforts.
   ÀÀ   Lewis and Clark Trail - Protecting the explorers' historic route along the Missouri River.
   ÀÀ   Civil War Battlefields - Acquiring lands within Gettysburg, Antietam and other battlegrounds.
    A Conservation Vision for the 21st Century. Beyond saving America's "crown jewels," we must work to preserve natural wonders in our very backyards. Protecting local green spaces helps improve air and water quality, sustain wildlife, provide families with places to play and relax, and make our communities
more livable. Lands Legacy provides $588 million to state and local governments, including:

       ÀÀ  Land Acquisition Grants - $150 million in matching grants for land or easements for urban parks, greenways,
             outdoor recreation, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.
        ÀÀ Planning Grants and Loans - $50 million in matching grants for open space planning, and $10 million to support
             $50 million in low-interest loans to rural areas for "smart growth" planning and development.
        ÀÀ Farmland Protection - $50 million for easements on threatened farmland and open space.  
        ÀÀ Urban Parks and Forests - $40 million to maintain and expand urban and community forests, and $4 million to
             renovate parks in distressed urban neighborhoods.
       ÀÀ  Forest and Wildlife Protection - $50 million for easements to protect critical forest habitat, and $80 million for
             habitat conservation plans to protect endangered species.

Guaranteed Funding for the Future. To sustain these efforts in the years ahead, the President and Vice President are calling for legislation to provide a permanent funding stream of at least $1 billion a year, within a balanced budget, beginning in
FY 2001. This legislation should:
   
          ÀÀ    Dedicate about half of the funding to state, local, and tribal efforts to protect or restore open space, greenways,      
          urban parks, wildlife habitat, coastal wetlands, farms and forests.
      ÀÀ   Allow communities to use a range of tools, including easements and other flexible mechanisms, to protect resources
             in the manner best suited to local needs.
       ÀÀ  Protect wildlife by funding efforts to preserve and restore a diversity of habitats.
       ÀÀ  Recognize the unique environmental needs of coastal states without creating new incentives for offshore oil leasing.