Comments welcome on state plan to reduce haze-producing pollution

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites comments on the state’s proposed plan to reduce pollution that causes haze in national parks and on other federal lands. Federal law requires states to submit plans to reduce air pollutants that affect visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas. Washington has eight of these mandatory Class 1 areas: * North Cascades, Olympic and Mount Rainier national parks. * Pasayten, Glacier Peak, Alpine Lakes, Goat Rocks, and Mount Adams wilderness areas. Federal law set a national goal to return visibility to “natural conditions” in Class 1 areas by 2064. To work toward that goal, states must develop Regional Haze State Implementation Plans for specific time periods between now and 2064. Washington’s first plan covers the initial (or foundational) planning period that extends from 2005 to 2018. The plan must show how the state will work to reduce emissions of haze-producing pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from smoke, vehicles, certain industrial plants. and other sources. Ecology is seeking public comments on the draft plan. Comments on the long-term strategy for returning visibility to natural conditions can be especially helpful as the state starts to implement the plan. They also can help guide how the strategy is revised in future planning periods. You can submit comments from Wednesday, Aug. 25, through Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, by: * E-mail to AQcomments@ecy.wa.gov. * Mail to Doug Schneider, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. You’re also invited to comment on the plan during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 28, 2010, at Ecology headquarters, 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey. Ecology will provide a link to participate in the public hearing via the Internet. That information will be available by Sept. 21 at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/globalwarm_RegHaze/regional_haze.html . You can review the proposed plan and related documents at these locations: * Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. * Longview Public Library, 1600 Louisiana St. * Mount Vernon Public Library, 315 Snoqualmie St. * Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St. * Seattle Public Library (Central Library), 1000 Fourth Ave. * Twisp Library, 2100 N. Methow Valley Highway * Wenatchee Library, 310 Douglas St. * Online when the comment period begins at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/globalwarm_RegHaze/regional_haze.html