National Park ServiceVision and Guiding Principlesfor National Air ProgramChris ShaverNational Park ServiceAir Resources DivisionMay 14, 2009•General observation•Basis for perspective•What’s a good start, but vague or needsmore attention•What’s missing•Parting shotsGeneral Kudos•Vision on target•Peripheral vision well-focused–Move toward integrated, multi-pollutantapproach–Recognition of climate change overlay•Guiding principles broad enough toencompass issues and strategies•Surprising amount of detail givendiverse interests represented in CAAAC•Sticky and complex topics fairly vagueNPS Perspective: Non-Urban Monitoring NetworkChanges in soil &water chemistryLethal effects on fish, otheraquatic animals (chronicacidification)Surface water NsaturationContinuum of Ecological Impacts from Air PollutionChanges intree chemistryChange in alpineplant speciesChange in aquatic plantspecies compositionForest decline(acidificationeffects on trees)Effects onaquatic animals(episodicacidification)GlacierYosemiteMesa VerdeRocky MtnOzone IncreasingOzone IncreasingOzone DecreasingGreat Smoky MtnsOzone decreasingComparison of Ozone Trend Approaches at Selected LocationsGreat Basin1995 -20071995 -20071995 -20071995 -20071995 -2007OzoneIncreasing1995 -2007JDR/DB5-11-09We are hereOur Place on the PlanetGoals, results & accountabilityNeed for goals linked to ecologicalimpactsGreater collaboration in planning &implementationPerformance measures, accountability inprotecting clean(er) air, includingecological healthUnderstand and embrace connectionbetween people, ecological health andecosystem servicesAppropriate tools, includinginnovationTechnology for sourcecategories – nationallyMulti-pollutant conceptPollution preventionMulti-pollutantimplementationWatch out for multi-mediaimpactsConduct & use researchEmissions, monitoring andresearch all important, butDon’t neglectEmerging pollutants (NH4) andmulti-stressor effectsPredictive needsTechnological & fuel innovationsCharacterization of economic andecosystem service benefitsBuild capacity & partnershipsIt takes more than EPA andStatesMoney, people, guidanceRecognition that others may bebetter positioned to lead“Improved understanding”should be coupled withresponsiveness to science,incorporation into planning &accountability metricsPublic education & involvementAccess to public-friendly infoand action-oriented messagesEmphasize multi-mediabenefits of pollution controland prevention and behavioradjustmentsWhat About...•Geographic scale of air quality problem–Regional, interstate, national and global–Clarify roles and responsibilities–Institutional mechanisms (& support for them)•NAAQS dilemna–Science vs practicality, honesty vs hope ofcompliance–How to ensure accountability and diligence/ pushthe envelope without penalizing failure toaccomplish impossible,Consider multi-mediaconnections•Air disperses, transforms and deposits pollution to:–Water (deposition)–Wildlife (bioaccumulation)–Soil (nutrient loading, leaching)•Control strategies to reduce risk in one media mayincrease risk in another (e.g., waste management,renewable energy)•Connections between programs within EPA and inStates and Tribes to avoid redundant, counterproductive, ill-informed actions•Optimization requires coordination and dialoguedialogue neededClimate Change ConnectionLinks and Symbosis•Need for resiliency–Criteria pollutant control programs improvehealth•Some criteria pollutants = GHGs, others interact withGHGs•Synergistic and/or confounding impacts–Multi-media, multi-pollutant–science, policy and management issues NEED tobe addressed•Advance opportunities for technological innovationBe guided by constellation of ideas, not just the North Starhttp://www.nature.nps.gov/airFor More InformationSequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksPhoto: USGS