Schumer fights to restore acid rain funding

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October 24, 2007

Pushes restoration of funds to monitor pollutants

By JOE LoTEMPLIO The Press Republican Wed Oct 24, 2007, 05:31 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is seeking to have funding for acid-rain monitoring restored to the federal budget.

The Clean Air Status and Trends Network is a federal program that works to combat acid rain across New York state and the country by establishing monitoring stations that provide scientists and legislators with detailed information on acid-rain deposition.

The program has historically been funded at $3.9 million, but the administration of President George W. Bush is proposing cutting the funding level by about $1 million, Schumer says.

He is calling on the Senate committee overseeing the program to restore the funding.

"With acid rain already decimating so many of New York's precious parks, lakes and rivers, it is inconceivable that we would now slash funding to a federal program that is vital to combating acid rain," Schumer said in a news release.

"Acid rain is public enemy No. 1 for the Adirondacks and parks across the state, and it is absolutely critical that scientists and environmentalists fighting this environmental scourge have the tools they need. We have made gains in the battle against acid rain, but we need hard data to win the war."

Data shows that acid rain has severely affected more than 500 of the Adirondack Park's 2,800 lakes and ponds.

Also, thousands of high-elevation red spruce and fir forests have been wiped out, and mercury contamination exacerbated by acid rain has been documented in more than 20 Adirondack lakes, making the fish unfit to eat.

The Clean Air Status and Trends Network operates 80 monitoring stations throughout the country, including some in New York state. The stations measure air quality.

Schumer and fellow Democratic U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York were criticized recently by the Adirondack Council for not doing more to fight the proposed funding cuts.

North Country Congressman John McHugh was praised by the Adirondack Council for having the funding restored to the House bill.

Schumer said he will pursue the fight full bore.

"This proposed cut in funding would slash the legs out from under this crucial program."

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com