24th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, it is acknowledged that recent scientific assessments of current and projected future benefits of US/Canada emissions reduction programs in acid rain indicate that progress has occurred, but the problems are still persistent; and

WHEREAS, the Canada/United States Air Quality Agreement commits the federal governments to develop seamless monitoring efforts across the border so both countries have the ability to share and jointly analyze data; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers agree that the establishment of regional monitoring networks will enhance scientific understanding of acid rain, will serve to communicate vital information to the public, and will help support the call on the federal governments, in cooperation with states and provinces to introduce appropriate control strategies in upwind regions; and

WHEREAS, acid deposition is a major concern for Northeastern forests as forest soil fertility is marginal in many parts of the region, poor forest nutrition and health have been related to soil acidification, long-term studies report that nutrient depletion in forest soils is associated, in part, with acid deposition in several forest catchments in Northeastern America; forest products industries are key to the economies of the region; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers agree on the need to deliver education and outreach programs by raising public awareness on the continued relevance and critical nature of acid rain; its impact on the environment, the effectiveness of our respective national control programs; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers' Acid Rain Steering Committee has worked diligently on the implementation of the Acid Rain Action Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers commend the fine work of the Acid Rain Steering Committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers call on the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada to continue to lead their respective federal efforts to achieve further emission reductions in acid rain; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers call on the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada

   
• to contribute as full partners in the implementation of the action plan, in cooperation with states and provinces; and
   
• to encourage other appropriate federal agencies to assist in the implementation of the work plans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt, in accordance with their respective financial and human resources, the proposed work plans that calls for the establishment of a regional

   
• data merging and exchange program
   
• fine particulate monitoring network
   
• surface water quality monitoring network
   
• forest mapping project; and

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

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

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