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ACID RAIN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS � FA 9 TOWN OF AGAWAM :4: 38 ffAIN STREET AGAE 'AM, MASSACHUSETTS 01001 Tel. 413-186-0400 �IPq�p M December 9, 1983 The Honorable Paul E . Tsongas United States Senate 362 Russell Senate Office Bldg . Washington, D . C . 20510 1 Dear Senator Tsongas : Please be advised that the Agawam Town Council has unanimously supported the attached resolution regarding acid rain in Massachusetts . As the resolution requests , I would hope that you will give this serious consideration and your prompt attention. Sincerely, . Donald M. Rheault , President Agawam Town Council DMR/ur 4 r t } WASHINGTON, O.C. 20510 ' December 19, 1983 Mr . Donald M. Rheault ' President, Town Council 36 Main Street Agawam, Massachusetts 01001 Dear Mr . Rheault: Thank you for sending me a copy of your recent Resolution concerning acid rain. T share your view that acid rain poses serious environmental hazards. Passing legislation to control this problem must be one of the top priorities of the 98th Congress. Six years ago, when I was a member of the House Interior Committee, I chaired a hearing on the environmental impacts of ' coal. The testimony I received raised serious concerns about the potential impact of acid rain. Since that time, scientific evidence has been confirming the damage from acid rain and identifying the causes. In 1980, as a member of the Senate Energy Committee, I chaired hearings devoted entirely to the subject of acid rain. The testimony convinced me that this serious environmental threat is growing and steps need to be taken soon to avoid irreversible environmental harm. During that same year, I offered the "Acid Rain Amendment" to ' legislation that would provide subsidies to utilities that converted from oil to coal. My amendment would have prohibited such subsidies if the conversion resulted in greater emissions of sulfur dioxide, a primary cause of acid rain. Even this modest ' amendment to prevent an increase in acid rain was def ated by the Senate, demonstrating that there was insufficient political support to address the acid rain problem. In the last three years scientific evidence has mounted and political support has grown. Current Senate efforts re directed ' at amending the Clean Air Act . I am an original cosp nsor and strong supporter of Senator Mitchell' s Acid Rain Control Act, S. 145, which would require an 8 million ton reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions. This bill is pending before .the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which hopefully will take up amendments to the Clean Air Act next year. A hopeful sign in the Congressional debate over acid rain is that opponents of acid rain controls are now talking about ', a national utility surcharge to help pay for acid rain control measures. This demonstrates that the debate is shifting from questions of whether acid rain is a problem to questions of how do '! we address i Mr . Donald M. Rheault December 19, 1983 Page 2 it. The issue of a surcharge is an important one for New England ' to deal with. Any system of surcharges should reflect the fact that we already have relatively clean burning power plants and our electric rates are among the highest in the country. But it ' may turn out that paying a surcharge is the political price we must pay to pass acid rain control legislation which would clean up the dirty plants in the Midwest. Such a surcharge should be in the form of an emission tax in order to be equitable.. In summary, I believe that the scientific evidence is clear: acid rain is damaging the environment in the Northeast and ' reducing sulfur dioxide emissions will help to reduce acid rain. Additional study and research is called for but should be pursued while we take steps to reduce acid rain. Additional study must not be an excuse for inaction. Acid rain, along with hazardous waste, is among the most serious environmental problems we face today. It is critical that we take steps to address it as soon as possible. More study will only confirm that we should have taken action earlier. I have enclosed a copy of an editorial I recently wrote for The Sprinsffield Union Sunday Republican as part of the "Massachusetts Acid Rain Awareness Week" . I hope that you will find the article of interest . ' Thank you once again for your concern about this vital issue. SiTrl PANGAS United States Senator PET/lmy Enclosure FA TOWN OF AGAWAM 36 MAIN STREET AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS 01001 Tel. 413-786-0400 ATEO Mpy December 9 , 1983 ' The Honorable Silvio 0 . Conte 200 High Street Holyoke, MA Dear Congressman Conte : Please be advised that the Agawam Town Council has unanimously supported the attached resolution regarding acid rain in Massachusetts . As the resolution requests , I would hope that you will give this serious consideration and your prompt attention. C ' Sincerely, Donald M. Rheault, President Agawam Town Council DMR/ur r SILVIO O. CONTE WASHINGTON ADDRESS: FIRST DISTRICT,MASSACHUBETTS ZWO RAYeuRH OFFICE Bu1LDIN0 WASNINGToN,D.C. 20515 MMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS PHONE:202-225-5335 RANKING MINORRY MEMBER SUBCOMMITTEES: Congreog of the mniteb &tateg; DISTRICT OFFICES: TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL BUIL1IIN6 LaBaR-HEW - 78 CENTER STREET ARTERIAL LEGISLATIVE Nowt of Aeprelentatibe� PITTSFIELD.MASSACHUSETTB 01201 EX OFnC-10 MEMO R yy O.C. 4 mEe 413-442-09" OF ALL SUBCOMM ITTEES Mabin$ten, O `C 20515 ' COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS 200 W1014 STREET SUBCOMMITTEE OH ENERpG�. Y CENTURY PLAZA 11 ENVIRONMENT,SAFETY,AND rt¢SFARCH HOLYOKE,MAssAcHusn7z 01040 P1.oNE:413-532-7010 MIGRATORY BIRD December 20, 1%3 CONSERVATION COMM15SlON BOARD OF REGENTS SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ' Mr. Donald Rheault President Agawam Town Council 36 Main Street Agawam, Massachusetts 01001 Dear Mr. Rheault: Thank you for contacting my office regarding one of the most important environmental issues facing the Congress: acid rain control. i am pleased to report that at a press conference held in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1983, 1 announced a national cost sharing program designed to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 50%, as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. As the co-Chairman of the New England Congressional Caucus' Task Force on Acid Rain, I have worked over the past five months to develop this proposal which fully represents the three essential priorities and concerns of our region on this critical issue. First, the bill is the first introduced in the House of Representatives that calls for a 50% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions in the eastern 31 states. In an extensive survey of New England public opinion conducted this past summer by the Task Force, this provision emerged unchallenged as our region's highest priority. Based on the findings of the National Academy of Sciences, a 12 million ton/50% reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions will lead to a significant lessening of the damaging effects of acid rain in New England and across the nation. The second goal of this program is the regional equity of a national cost sharing approach to the problem. My proposal imposes a 1.5 mill per kilowatt/hour (I5/100's of one cent) fee on electricity generated in the 48 contiguous states (nuclear and hydro exempted). The money collected by the federal government will be used to pay for sulfur dioxide emission reduction in two phases. Phase I of the program pays 90% of the capital costs associated with installing or retrofitting control equipment on the 50 largest utility emitters. This provision is similar to the scheme mandated in H.R. 3400 (the Waxman bill). Phase 11 is a revenue sharing program with funds distributed to the states based on assessed emission reductions, Massachusetts, under this formula, should receive approximately $46 million annually for five years. According to reliable estimates, this should cover most of the costs associated with our state's reduction assessment. In fact, i i 1 Mr. Donald Rheault Page 2 December 20, 1983 the Commonwealth will receive more moneyfrom the fund each year than is Y paid out in the generation fees on electricity. Scientific evidence has supported the assertion that New England as a region contributes to its own problem with acid rain. Considering this fact, my proposal equitably distributes the costs of reduction. For example, the 12 midwestern states produce 56% of the sulfur dioxide emissions in the United States. Under this program, these states would pay 58% of the costs. For New England, the comparison is also nearly perfect. Two percent of the total sulfur dioxide emissions is produced in our region and under this program, we will pay 2 percent of the costs. To put these numbers in more concrete terms, the net cost to the average household in Massachusetts will ' be $ .32 per month on the utility bill over a ten year period. The average cost willing to be borne by the people and groups surveyed this summer was $2.15 per month for a 12 million ton reduction in SO2 emissions. iThe third key factor in developing this legislation is to ensure that it will be strategically, politically and substantively consistent with H.R. 3400, introduced in June by Representative Henry Waxman, the chairman of the House Health and the Environment Subcommittee. This panel has jurisdiction over acid rain legislation in the House of Representatives. By working within this framework, this proposal will be able to affect substantively the ' legislation reported from the Committee to include some of the priorities outlined above. I hope this proposal will rekindle the national debate on acid rain that has been on the back burner for some time now. For your reference, I have enclosed a copy of the statement I placed in the Congressional Record when this legislation was filed. If you have any questions or comments on this program, please do not hesitate to contact my office. With best wishes, I an Cordially your s• Silvio 0. Conte Member of Congress SOC/ts ..,...-F.,._ I o Atd,NAL rtk Lux D--E%Jnwom ofRe•»rarRr JVOWMDerJO, JYOJ Finally, for thane who would chLMpton and agriculture resources, visibility. In brief, the Sandinistas promised a nuclear power, there is the unwelcntne real- and physical structures. The damage is tree press. freedom of religion, and 12+U n the-despite refined technology.de- not confined to State boundaries. In free elections. On each- count they Spite tough.inspection codes—there will be the South, many are extremely sensi- have failed miserably,They censor the eornereuttirm bypsasing Led Plain ordinary. cheating as tong as mortals are at the con- tive to acid ralm In the Midwest. high press, they arrest priests and heckle trot. pollutant concentration can cause_ the pope.and elections arestowhere in It It disappointing that no individuals are growth reductions In both agricultural eight..- charged with systematically destroying crop&and forests. In the West vWbll , I had planned to address the CAPA records and hiding Information from the- ity is affected by auto emissions and rally but was unable to do in because NRC. Hut nieces will surely surface as the industrial process utters.. of,wftedulft conilleta. I silo..believe proceedina continue: And In charging the In other words, acid rain Is a IAUM-_that4t fa appropriate to Is ing to the company itself with"criminal conduct,"Um. al problem requiring a national 'solo-. atteotias3:.of my_colleaNs the floe Justice Department has put ad apu*s manage-. lion--With trite in mind, the New En* work CAPA Is,� In B efeting out iroenC-not. sm3ply."a few had apples^-an R land congresdoinsl caucus acid.rain`tile.-bMkei promises of ties ftndlnls- Tlierer arw--thcse. NRC Commissioner 'task force-­cachaired by me and Noah tas.' Ticter Gflgm ry chief among there,who tong- D'AKovu&Umg with En MAwm--de- I ask that-the remade t Prepared •gik=fat COOM1enoe In GPU`m top brain, veloped a Oomprehenalve,national add` for the rilllt be printed foo ie Rsx.oaa. z'ttos..oifiaaa laclrrde William to Sabra,: rain control program. V" the basic, at this�ail0t GF9 ohairmaq of the board;germs Dieck.- framework-of the W _ - MM% ooa parry prudent, and Robert G• Grin�"domed tl& ��; Thank.yea-�y muck ff � sae Arnold preddent of the GFU nuclear ruts hers today,'rbe rraty presence of all of you. UK-bow competently-how avltk tw6bask principles In -is the pedeetL covau ffDoins-to arse aoassive, hey pertormea both before the F3tat we mandate a 60-perxxat_M; amount of fain a"mislesaft fitfam atioa. unpteadsnted accident and after its might' duction InvAtur dioxide usslonk IV belwprmted and n9aeted aI■at,Cvntml;, aft:&UXWoegb goeag airs In a DWAf&of laV6 L Million toriet 14 the Es stetfi 218titt*L America.In a dets omma we"m aeet to die Wanld th"it Is a speeds UISL Juftnwothl 72&rddtwUl a-retlummended d3•thi; cuss poW-and&am or disco with our AbWkwhetlw the corporstim can be trust ITSLIOnW AeAftfiai.-of 8ci�tceFwkd' Mwernwent-can tasy'+Iotltir bLuka llow amdoess differ- T be toto vm1we n-, by by the cleanup -In land dQ vterr► by:Nets Xtg ;in a demomey we can diet 4 the cafe of-the reluctant Jtutim Depart.. lander1gW1c.ihe�prfOrfts TOr ak, ragua wser s.the- ArabW*mp ban .bean =. man&and the bust-passing XAC.of course. acid!i►hi a►n bTogram:Almost &W• banned fuMthe radio,or is Oral Io s de-. there will be no fonaal procem&n&But they Ness Q erlJlilonmentalr group. t nwcn cy we Can'uss our 1%ft to rota to F too stand with steeping at. =Qor , small Dudnease4 thraaout our pontiai leadva it we don't the wheel cod, woos. leaving the scene at, conettl m r cad elderly group were aw agree -tb-Lien!-sae fh w As ahr In on.. an aacidem-- - veyed by the task fora this summer. • P_+lrttimmY status of Cut*w+Hlarras ra. -• ,,.�_ A copy at the results is included io the Gyaueal ACID RAMCONTYiQL PROGRAMPROGRAMpress yacYet: We we hem iodq no to arsMAmerim or RsmaN Ba kpwar sae Isaden of The.aeoond'yradple' raliiecta cut 113 Salwadar -re are here tail to,boom HM. SILVIO 0. COM- overall approach 'As A region.. we : and.ctppWj freWomrand dseae . and wanted to taake a, good. faith offer the people of the ww1d who mat peace seed. or AUSBACRUArm based ore reglaaat equity and Wrneas.:beedom.I have always been p"ed by the IN Test BOIIss of agrxsssa.TATlvss Recent congressional inaction ..has inedible-was is mbkb some People have Wednesday. November 16, 1983-, demonstrated that political posturhWL,the ability to look three Voss as the same r Mr. CONTE Mr. Speaker. I rice an acid rain-.k= accomplished notkl-- time. These People insist ths& our nalloa t to be today to' Introduce. along with the ing' It is time to act in a blparttastr ��to �10 the' own� at the gentleman from New Hampshire [Mr. way and on a national level -same ymw that they cannot s! 24 North D'Amovxa)- and Members from the I ass convinced that we developed a Koreans.in Grenada or Song Cubans In New England delegation, legislation balanced program We are sensitive to :Nicaragua-Thews people erlticiee the pros- ' n-providing for a comprehensive, nation- the employment effects in coal pro- .rraaof reforms by the gaveanmest of m IW- Io during States.We are aware of the re- .wader which was elected Is freedom lest al acid rasa control program. This n- gional costs of reducing sulfur dioxide- year by a vote of Bege percent of the voters islation is the finest introduced in the emissions.and are are concerned about while they say that Nicartgw sbould be ex- House of Representatives that calls the impact of a cost sharing program cused for reJeet ns arty elections at au after ' for a Mpereent reduction in sulfer that. was acne of the Saadaodstas' main dioxide emissions in the Eastern SI ev r. we expect t the same time, how- romism during the revolution States. It addresses a serious nation- ever. we expect & reduction m emir- people way that the United States spending wide problem that In almost out of dons signiflcant enough to make a dif- $20 sultan to give land to 40,00d farmers In control. ference. Ip Salvador over the past year Is not good Let me put this problem In concrete `The research Is complete and the enough when in Nicaragua and Cuba the terns. Acid rain is an environmental problem has been Identified.It is time government owns au of the tandv These tar terms. Acid read to explode. The fuse to defuse the acid rain timebomb.a people can see the Bishops of El Salvador y criticise wmngdoiag in their country. but is long and the timer to silent,but the '-"�"� they cannot see priests being beaten and explosion will be devastating and far- CENTRAL AMJWCA F"R13QM toned out of the country In Nicaragua reaching. The result--irreversible AIAJ"CE while the Pope is taunted and shouted at by damage to the environment the polltburc&m I wonder Just what kind of Already In my own State of Massa- HON. THOMAS d.BULEY, JL eyeg"am" I need to be Moe to see three ehuaetts, over 70 bodies of avatar ways at once like them communist apnlo- h or vraoerrn glT tested In a recent survey Were acids- tied--ar what is commonly called Ire Tgx sonic or xxrrgsxtrrsrlvra The United States is on the right side is suPp the - -dead-" These lakes. streams, and res- Wednesday, November l4 2983 Central America. We se supp people of II Salvador. We are supporttreg ervoirs experience a severe lose of fish a Mr. SLIIYY. Mr.:. Speaker, on the people of Nicaragua_We are supporting ' and other aquatic life. The survey also Monday of this week the Central the people of Grenada.The Soviet Union in classified over 40 percent of these wa- America Freedom Alliance (CAPA) supporting the person of Fide)Castro. The ter ways as endangered or worse. In held a rally to'a oincide with the open- Soviet Union Is supporting the person of total, 82 percent of the lakes, reser- ins session of the meeting of the Orga- rhuge) Ortega The Soviet Union gave the viors and streams tested in Massachu- nization of American States. The pur- guns Mau to[lineal TheRudman led St who killed were sensitive to acid rain. pose of the rally was to remind OAS parting human The United States is sup- setts Auwt►n rtghta These rights Include The effects, however, are not con- members of the broken promises of the right to vote, the right to dissent, the fined to aquatic damage. Acid rain af- the Sandinista government Of Ntcara- right to wornhip.m yotz warn, the right to fects human health conditions, forest guar choose your own politics and most impar-