Backstop Market Trading Program
To Improve Visibility in
National Parks and Wilderness Areas
On the Colorado Plateau
PUBLIC MEETINGS
August 17 - Denver, Colorado
August 22 - Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 24 - Phoenix, Arizona
August 29 - Flagstaff, Arizona
August 30 - Salt Lake City, Utah
August 31 - Casper, Wyoming
September 6 - Boise, Idaho
THE PROPOSAL
The Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), comprising governors from 12 Western states, tribal leaders and federal agency representatives, is seeking public comment on a proposal to reduce regional emissions from stationary sources of sulfur dioxide (SO2), as well as proposed recommendations regarding a backstop emissions trading program. SO2 is an important contributor to haze in Western parks and wilderness areas. Preliminary analysis indicates that the cost of using a backstop trading program to reduce emissions will be $50 - 100 million cheaper than a traditional command-and-control program. Since the largest sources of sulfur dioxide are coal-fired electric power generating plants, a backstop trading program can offset - and potentially reduce - any increases in the cost of electricity for consumers.
TO COMMENT
The WRAP is seeking public comment on several documents, including: 1) the draft final recommendations; 2) a memorandum of understanding; and, 3) a dreaft model rule. Complete details of the program are available at www.wrapair.org. The Web site contains links to submit comments via e-mail and instructions on how to join a listserver, which will automatically send an e-mail alerting subscribers that new information has been posted to the Web. If you have questions, contact either Patrick Cummins at the Western Governors' Association, 1515 Cleveland Place, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80202, (303) 623-9378; or Bill Grantham at the National Tribal Environmental Council at 2221 Rio Grande NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, (505) 242-2175.
BACKGROUND
The WRAP was created as the successor organization to the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commision (GCVTC), which made over 70 recommendations in June 1996 for improving visibility in 16 national parks and wilderness areas on the Colorado Plateau. The Partnership promotes, supports and monitors implementation of those recommendations throughout the West. Under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Haze Rule, nine of the Western states have the option to comply using the GCVTC's regional visibility protection program. The optional program requires the establishment of a regional emission target for 2018, in addition to interim targets. The recommendations and options regarding the market trading program were developed over the last two years by WRAP committees comprising a diverse group of stakeholders including industry, environmental groups and academia. Other pollutants and pollution sources - vehicles, fires, smaller industrial sources, will be addressed over the next few years. The final WRAP recommendations will be submitted to EPA by October 2, 2000. EPA will consider the market trading program as part of its formal rule-making process for the Regional Haze Rule. PUBLIC MEETINGS August 17 Denver, Colorado 9 a.m., Colorado State Health Dept. August 22 Santa Fe, New Mexico 7 p.m., Runnells Building Auditorium August 24 Phoenix, Arizona 7 p.m., Room 1709-10 August 29 Flagstaff, Arizona August 30 Salt Lake City, Utah 7 p.m., Utah DEQ Building August 31 Casper, Wyoming 7 p.m., Basco Building September 6 Boise, Idaho 7 p.m., Idaho DEQ
4300 Cherry Creek Drive So.
1190 St. Francis Drive
Arizona DEQ
3033 N. Central
Tribal Workshop
General Meeting
1-5 p.m. Room 28
Dubois Center (follow signs off McConnell Drive)
Northern Arizona University Lower Campus
6:30 p.m., Fremont Room
Dubois Center
Room 101, 168 N. 1950 West
777 West First Street
1410 N. Hilton