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Merck & Co., Inc.

National Parks and Conservation Association

ALERT SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK TO BE NATIONAL TEST FOR AIR QUALITY PROTECTION STANDARDS

Proposed Emissions Permit for Merck's Elkton Plant Leaves the Public with Little Say over the Future of the Park's Air Quality

EPA is on the verge of granting Merck's Elkton plant, which is two miles from Shenandoah National Park, a new permit that will exempt Merck from strict adherence to federal environmental regulations governing air quality. The exemption is being granted under a federal program (Project XL) that exempts companies from strict adherence to federal regulations if the company's alternative pollution control program results in superior environmental conditions than would be attained through normal regulatory compliance. Specifically, Merck is proposing to replace its coal-fired boilers with natural gas to reduce NOx and SO2 emissions.

We are highly supportive of the overall intent of Merck's proposed program. However, the problem is that there are serious flaws in the proposed permit. If these shortcomings are allowed to go unchallenged, they could set a dangerous precedent for similar permit requests near Shenandoah and other national parks. We need your help in persuading EPA to rectify these problems:

Please urge EPA to:

Send your comments by May 15 to:

Ms. Robin Moran
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III
Air, Radiation & Toxins Division
841 Chestnut St (3AT23)
Philadelphia, PA 19107-4431
(215) 566-2064 - phone
(215) 566-2124 - fax

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO PROTECT SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK!

May 5, 1997

I agree with the above proposals. In recent years, we have experienced unusual smog across the valley floor and on the skyline drive.

Mr. Harry C. Smith
319 Sussex Dr.
Staunton VA 24401-2627


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