For Immediate Release: November 9, 2007
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY β Adirondack Park Agency Board unanimously adopts Resolution Concerning Clean Air Act Settlement with American Electric Power.
On November 9, 2007, the Full Agency Board unanimously adopted resolution 2007 β 6, commending Governor Spitzer and the Attorney General for their efforts to bring about closure to a major clean air compliance issue and drawing attention to the need for continual vigilance in our efforts to combat acid rain. The American Electric Power Clean Air Act settlement agreement announced on October 9, 2007 is a major step forward in the fight against long-range transport of air pollution that damages the environment of the Adirondacks and the Northeast.
This settlement will require American Electric Power to install and continually operate pollution control technology at sixteen power plants. Upon full implementation in 2018, the settlement will sequester at least 813,000 tons per year of air pollution, specifically nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide. These pollutants are major contributors to acid rain. In addition, AEP is required to pay a 15 million dollar fine and commit 60 million dollars for environmental mitigation projects. The Adirondack Park Agency will work closely with all state agencies to ensure that New York State receives its share of the settlement and remediation funds.
Chairman Stiles said, βThe Adirondack Park Agency has a long history of research and advocacy related to acid deposition in the Adirondacks. For over 30 years, the Agency has worked collaboratively with our colleagues at the Department of Environmental Conservation monitoring the effects of acid rain and calling for stronger federal regulations to ensure protection of our sensitive aquatic and terrestrial resources. The control of acid emissions and the recovery of acidified forests and waters need to remain national priorities and sometimes it becomes the role of the states to remind the federal government of its significance.β
The Adirondacks are particularly sensitive to acid deposition due to the regions high precipitation rates, shallow acidic soils and low-calcium bedrock. Acid deposition in the Adirondacks is relatively high when compared to other regions of the United States. Wet deposition rates of sulfur and nitrogen in the western Adirondacks are some of the highest recorded in the nation. Although the eastern Adirondacks are less affected, they still receive significant amounts of deposition.