Parks in Hazards

The country’s open space containing wildlife and plants are probably not more immune to air pollution from power plants than it is in big cities. Congress in 1977 amended the Clean Air Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to make an effort to clean air in national parks and other places that holds a historical value in hope to leave behind for the next generations. Since then, no administration including Bush’s has paid any attention to this ratification. Although we are having some critical and uprising issues in the US, the government can’t disregard the pollution of wilderness areas and historical parks. Government should continuously protect and assure a pollution-free national park.

Two weeks ago, the anti regulatory brigade in the Office of Management and Budget killed ozone standards that offers strong protections for plants, trees, crops and wildlife. Despite the protests from its own regional offices and the National Park Service, the Environmental Protection Agency nearly approve for regulations that would make it easier to build coal-fired plants near parks and wilderness areas without installing pollution control plants. Protecting and improving national parks was President Bush’s environmental promises in the 2000 campaign. He pledged to control greenhouse gas emissions but he abandoned Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The White House weakened a proposed rule that would reduced the airborne particulates that ruin the scenic views in many parks. As a result one of the three national parks suffers from one or another form of air pollution including the Yosemite. Bush only speaks out promises but no actions have taken out far enough to change anything.

The air in these parks will only get worse if the administration proceeds with its latest rules opening the way for more downwind power plants. Sulfur dioxide will continue to cause acid rain and kill trees. Mercury emissions poison streams. Nitrogen oxides and sulfates will continue to create smog and haze. Eventually it will not only affect the trees, streams, animals but we will see the deepening effects of pollution to human beings. We need a leader to lead us to a solution for the better of life of animals, plants, and human beings if we want to look forward to a next generation.