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

WHEREAS, despite the implementation of national and local control strategies in both U.S. and Canada, public health and environmental resources in the New England States and Eastern Canadian Provinces continue to be adversely affected by air pollution; and

WHEREAS, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the long-range transport of air pollution from sources outside of the region substantially contributes to smog, acid rain, fine particulate matter, regional haze, and mercury deposition in the New England States and the Eastern Canadian Provinces; and

WHEREAS, the recent efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide relief from the adverse effects of long-range transport of ozone and its precursor emissions have been stalled by litigation in the federal courts; and

WHEREAS, Eastern Canadian Provinces have been supportive of efforts on the part of the New England States to seek relief from the adverse effects of the long-range air pollution transport; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers has adopted and is implementing regional action plans to reduce mercury emissions and acid deposition in the Northeast Region; and

WHEREAS, there are a number of possible international mechanisms available to mitigate the long-range transport of air pollution into the region including amending the U.S./Canada Air Quality Agreement, adopting Memoranda of Understanding through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and Section 115 of the U.S. Clean Air Act;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers call upon the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada to pursue additional reduction strategies for those sources outside the region that significantly contribute to air quality problems in New England and Eastern Canada.

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

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