29th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

           WHEREAS, the New England governors and Eastern Canadian premiers have utilized their unique relationship to enhance environmental stewardship and implement three landmark environmental action plans—for mercury, acid rain, and climate change—in the region; and

           WHEREAS, our regional air pollutants/health problems result from a mixture of pollutants transported from sources outside of the region and pollutants from local sources; and

           WHEREAS, through these three action plans, the NEG/ECP has reduced the levels of toxic substances like mercury in our environment and developed programs leading to cleaner air in the region; and

           WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP recognizes the connectedness of land, air, and water resources across regional and political boundaries and the symbiotic relationship of the health of local, state and provincial water bodies and the health of the ocean; and

           WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP recognizes that while a great deal has been accomplished through coordinated environmental programs, additional progress can be made by continuing to aggressively pursue the goals of the environmental action plans.

           NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, working with its Coordinating Committee and Committee on the Environment, continue to jointly coordinate common strategies for the resolution of regional environmental and related transport issues; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs its Mercury Task Force to continue to aggressively implement the Mercury Action Plan and the Strategic Plan to meet its 2010 75% reduction target for the region, through actions as specified in the report and materials submitted to the NEG/ECP; and 

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference accepts the report and work plan of its Acid Rain Steering Committee and approves changing the name to the Acid Rain and Air Quality Steering Committee to better reflect the work of the committee and to charge it with integrating ongoing efforts with new priorities; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs its Committee on the Environment to develop a cost-effective, regional low sulfur heating oil strategy for reducing the public health and environmental impacts of air pollution associated with residential and commercial space heating; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference accepts the report and work plan of its Climate Change Steering Committee and directs the Committee to finalize its plan for meeting the 2010 targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions as set forth by the NEG/ECP. Furthermore, the Conference supports the Northeast International Committee on Energy and the Committee on the Environment in developing an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy for the region to be submitted to the next Conference of the NEG/ECP; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs its Committee on the Environment to integrate land, air, and water resource considerations into systematic and ecological conclusions and recommendations that incorporate the symbiotic relationship of the ocean and local, state and provincial waters; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs its Committee on the Environment to report on its progress at the next Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

Adopted at the 29^th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, St. John’s, NL, August 29, 2005.

Danny Williams
Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador
Co-chair

Donald L. Carcieri
Governor of Rhode Island
Co-chair