The Adirondack Council

News Release

For more information:
Bernard C. Melewski - 518-432-1770

Released, Thursday, August 28, 2003

Albany, NY -- Representatives at the Adirondack Council expressed their extreme disappointment at the EPA's adoption of a new rule relaxing the routine maintenance provisions for power plants.

Bernard Melewski, the Council's Deputy Director, said, "it is unfortunate that EPA didn't follow the advice we gave them at the regional hearing last spring." At that time the Council recommended that EPA shouldn't revise the "New Source Review" rules until Congress set new, lower emissions standards for Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide and Mercury.

"We told them they were putting the cart before the horse," Melewski said, "and now it looks like the horse is out of the barn. We applaud the resolve of Attorney General Spitzer to use his authority to try to reign in EPA, but more needs to be done."

"Congress could not have had a louder wake up call that it is time for action on clean air," said Melewski. "We have to stop quibbling about whose bill is better and focus on what we can get done and soon. The fact is that even the weakest bill now before Congress will solve the acid rain problem and dramatically improve air quality from Maine to Georgia."

"Congress can't come home empty handed," Melewski said. "If they don't do something now, it will be years before we will see legislation that protects Adirondack lakes from the ravages of acid rain and protects tens of thousands of people from respiratory illnesses."

The Adirondack Council is dedicated to ensuring the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. Founded in 1975, the Council is an 18,000-member, privately funded, not-for-profit organization with offices in Albany and Elizabethtown.