Our speaker was Mr. Jim Renfro of the National Park Service. He discussed the continuing problem with haze, acid rain and ozone pollution in the Smoky Mountain National Park. The title of his talk was "Air Quality Issues at Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
"Research and monitoring in Great Smoky Mountains National Park has shown that airborne pollutants emitted from outside the park are degrading park resources and visitor enjoyment. The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) from all kinds of sources to produce energy for electricity, transportation and manufacturing, creates millions of tons of pollutants annually that is harming streams, soils, vegetation, visibility and public health. The park is home to the most biologically diverse ecosystem in the temperate forest on the planet. The park is classified as a Class I area under the Clean Air Act, national parks 6000 acres in size or larger, and are afforded the greatest degree of air quality protection under the Act. Tragically, this park is the most polluted national park in the country with key pollutants increasing. Significant reductions in sulfur and nitrogen are necessary to remedy the existing problems."
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