Federal Report on Acid Rain Draws Criticism

Abstract

Congress established a 10-year interagency research program in 1980 to examine the causes and effects of acid rain and recommend actions to limit or reduce its harmful effects. On September 17, the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) is scheduled to release its interim assessment. The impression that emerges from the summary is that there is not much to worry about. Acid rain has negligible or no effects on crops and forests, though tropospheric ozone may be a serious problem. Only a small number of lakes have been acidified, and no further significant acidification is likely in the northeast. No abrupt increase in damage to crops, forests, and lakes is likely at current emissions.