Some Thoughts on Acid Rain, the Clean Air Act and Implications for Acid Rain Policy in the USA and Europe

Abstract

Part I discusses the Acid Rain Report [National Acid Precipitation Assessment program 1990 Integrated Assessment Report], the ten-year scientific, technological and economic study mandated by the U.S. Congress and conducted at a cost of $570 million. This study found that ozone, not acid rain is responsible for killing trees. What is disturbing is that the media mostly ignored the NAPAP findings, and continue to speak of acid rain as though it were a problem of crisis proportions. And what is worse -- the U.S. Congress passed the Clean Air Act of 1990, which was intended to deal with the acid rain problem, without even looking at NAPAP's study. Part II discusses what acid rain policy should be.