Kelly Fuller in Badlands National Park
Tomorrow’s the last day for the public to comment on a North Dakota Department of Health plan to clean up the air in national parks and wilderness area in five states.
Under regulations related to the Clean Air Act, states are required to create plans to clean up the air over certain national parks, national forests, and wilderness areas. North Dakota’s draft plan is weak, and the federal land managers responsible for these areas have raised concerns about it. (Yep, their letter starts off by applauding the plan, but that’s standard protocol before getting to their real concerns, which they describe as “serious.”)
Which national parks are affected? Wind Cave, Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt, Voyageurs, Isle Royale. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and a few other wilderness areas are as well.
I feel sheepish about linking to something I’m quoted in, but you can read more about the issue in this good article from the Argus Leader.
Written comments must be received by January 8, 2010 and should be sent to:
Terry O’Clair
Director, Division of Air Quality
North Dakota Department of Health
toclair@nd.gov
The North Dakota Department of Health requests that emailed comments also be sent to them in hardcopy: 918 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501.
