His assignment, not an easy one, was performed with dedication, integrity, and a balanced understanding of the Nation's needs. Clean,'' Bill Ruckelshaus. Bill, speaking for many Americans, welcome home. The quality of air in the United States, especially in our cities, is better today than it was 13 years ago. Streams, rivers, and lakes all across the country are becoming cleaner.
Regulations are now in place that come to grips with the problems of hazardous waste disposal.
Progress is being made in cleaning up the abandoned chemical dumpsites which mar the countryside. And yet, as you and I have discussed, we must do even more to protect and cleanse our environment. There are many areas of immediate concern, but let me single out four that I would like you to address as quickly as possible in your new post. First, many of us, both here and in Canada, are concerned about the harmful effects of acid rain and what it may be doing to our lakes and forests. So, I'd like you to work with others in our administration, with the Congress, and with State and local officials to meet this issue head-on.