25th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, state and provincial environmental agencies committed significant resources towards the continued implementation of the Acid Rain Action Plan; and

WHEREAS, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers recognize the role and support provided by Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the implementation of regional acid rain projects; and

WHEREAS, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers received a report from its Committee on the Environment outlining progress to date, the major accomplishments, and the priorities for the coming year in reversing the acid rain deposition problem; and

WHEREAS, state and provincial environmental agencies have established a water monitoring network, a monitoring network for particulate matter and acid deposition, and a real-time for ozone monitoring network that will lead to the acquisition of accurate and reliable data in Northeastern North America; and

WHEREAS, two reports Is Nitrogen a Serious Issue? and Model Estimations of the Effect of SO2 Emission Reductions on Regional Aquatic Chemistry and Biology in Eastern North America were produced and will provide valuable information to the scientific community in understanding critical issues pertaining to acid deposition in lakes and rivers throughout the region; and

WHEREAS, priorities for the coming year will focus on the exchange and merging of data collected from the various regional monitoring networks, the development of maps outlining trends and critical loads, communications and public outreach; and

WHEREAS, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers concur on the need to increase public awareness of the critical nature of acid rain and to communicate effectively its work in the area of acid rain; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers commend the Acid Rain Steering Committee and the technical work groups for their continued commitment in the implementation of the Acid Rain Action Plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers acknowledge the support provided by Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the implementation of the regional acid rain projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers impress on both federal governments the need to exercise a leadership role and continue commitments for further control strategies of sulfur and nitrogen emissions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt the report submitted by its Committee on the Environment, outlining the major accomplishments and the priorities for the coming year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers approve for publication and distribution the two reports Is Nitrogen a Serious Issue and Model Estimations of the Effect of SO2 Emission Reductions on Regional Aquatic Chemistry and Biology in Eastern North America; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers direct its Committee on the Environment to develop a communications plan that will concentrate on increasing public awareness on the critical nature of acid rain and communicating its fine work in the area of acid rain; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Committee on the Environment, working with the secretariats, report on the progress of the implementation of the work plans at the next meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

Adopted at the 25th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, July 16-18, 2000.

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