New York passes nation's toughest acid rain rules
ALBANY, New York (AP) -- The state on Wednesday limited smokestack emissions in what environmentalists say will be the nation's toughest regulations on pollutants that cause acid rain.
The state Environmental Board ordered reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide to curb acid rain, as well as help people with asthma and other respiratory ailments, said state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Erin Crotty.
"They are the toughest acid rain regulations in the country," Crotty said. "Hopefully New York will become a model."
Environmentalists say that in the Adirondacks alone, acid rain has created more than 500 "dead" lakes and ponds with little plant or animal life.
But State Business Council spokesman Matthew Maguire said the regulations will not significantly reduce acid rain because most emissions in New York's air come from Midwestern plants. He said it will increase customers' energy bills while discouraging energy companies from doing business in New York.
"This is a state that is already deeply troubled by energy issues. Upon this fire we are ladling gasoline," Maguire said.
Electric generators statewide will have to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 50 percent below levels allowed under the federal Clean Air Act -- or by 130,000 tons a year. The reduction will be phased in over three years beginning in January 2005.
Nitrogen oxide emissions will have to be reduced by 20,000 tons a year beginning Oct. 1, 2004.
Crotty said the measure will have minimal effect on electricity prices, although power providers have estimated it could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars to comply.
The measure was not enough for Peter Iwanowicz of the American Lung Association, who said an 75 percent to 80 percent reduction in the pollutants was needed to heal waters damaged by acid rain.
"It's opportunity lost," Iwanowicz said. "We set the bar very low."
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