A coalition of environmental organizations intends to sue the Environmental Protection Agency and two other federal agencies over haze pollution in national parks and wilderness areas, including Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Led by the National Parks Conservation Association, the coalition notified the EPA of its intent to sue to force agency compliance with Clean Air Act’s Regional Haze Program. Last week, the EPA missed a deadline to approve a number of state plans to improve visibility at national parks and wilderness areas.
The coalition also intends to sue the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture over what it sees as an “unreasonable delay” in certifying that specific coal-fired power plants are causing haze pollution in various parks and wilderness areas.
The Department of the Interior, through its National Park Service, is responsible for the country’s National Parks; the Department of Agriculture oversees National Forests, including the Superior National Forest which is home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The Los Angeles Times has a story HERE on the EPA missing the recent deadline for approving state clean air plans.
The media release by the National Parks Conservation Association can be found HERE.
Find earlier Wilderness News Online coverage of the issue starting HERE.