Date: 1987-07-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 2399. the Forest Ecosystems and Atmospheric Pollution Research Act of 1987. and urge its passage. H.R. 2399 is identical to a bill which passed the House last year. H.R. 2631. that was introduced by our former colleague. Congressman Charlie Whitley. and the ranking minority member of the Agriculture Committees Subcommittee on Forests. Family Farms. and Energy. Mr. MORRISON. The bill arose from public hearings of a little more than a year ago that identified a number of inadequacies in current research on the effects of air pollutants on forests. During a full day of hearings. the subcommittee heard from scientists from Europe. Canada. and the United States. These experts expressed concern for the effects of a wide range of air pollutants on forests. including but not limited to. acid rain. Researchers familiar with the rapid decline of German forests discussed efforts to identify the causes of "Waldsterban" or "forest death." Canadian scientists discussed similar efforts to determine the factors surrounding the decline of sugar maples in eastern Canadian as well as the rapid increase in soil acidity in certain regions of the country. Finally. American researchers reviewed current. research efforts to determine the effects of various air pollutants. particularly ozone. on U.S. forest ecosystems. Representatives from the USDA Forest Service. the Environmental Protection Agency. and the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program testified at length regarding their efforts to determine if and how air pollutants are impacting trees in the United States. Several things became clear following this daylong inquiry. First. there Is a substantial decline in some U.S. forestsparticularly high elevation spruce and fir forests and the productivity of pine forests in the Southeast. Thus far. the causes for these diebacks and declines remain unexplained. However. researchers could not rule out acid rain as a culprit. Second. acid rain is not the only pollutant that we need be concerned about. In fact. more substantive evidence exists to indict ozone as a cause for both crop and forest dieback. For crops. estimated damage due to ozone is said to amount to $2 billion annually. And that was only for six crops that were the focus of an EPA study. Another pollutant of concern was heavy metals. such as lead and zinc. which are known to cause substantial forest diebacks in sufficient concentrations. It became clear from the testimony provided that we cannot look at acid rain in isolation if we are to deal with the problem of declining forest health. The third conclusion I believe that could be reached as a result of last years hearing was that there is an extensive research program in place. set up by the Acid Precipitation Act of 1980. to determine how acid rain is affecting forests. NAPAPthe National Acid Precipitation Assessment Programis the coordinating body for this research which involves Forest Service. EPA. and forest industry researchers. However. this research program has been hindered by its narrow focus on acid rain and has thus far failed to provide the necessary findings to guide policymakers in dealing Increase the frequency of forest In- Mr. DE LA GARZA. Mr. Speaker. I with the problems of air pollutant ef- ventories relating to atmospheric pol- have no further requests for time. and fects on forests. lution. . I yield back the balance of my time. In a subsequent hearing this June Determine the scope of decline of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The which focused on H.R. 2399. the For- forest ecosystems. . question is on the motion offered by ests Subcommittee heard similar testi- Develop recommendations for solv- the gentleman from Texas [Mr. DE LA mony calling for a broader. longterm Ing problems related to effects of at- GARZA] that the House suspend the research program on the effects of air mospheric pollution on health and rules and pass the bill. H.R. 2399. pollutants on forests. Only limited productivity of domestic forest ecosys- The question was taken. and (twoprogress has been made in broadening tems. and thirds having voted in favor thereof) the scope of the existing forest ecosys- Foster cooperation among Federal. the rules were suspended and the bill tem research program. and our under- State. and private researchers and en- was passed. standing of how air pollutants may he courage the exchange of scientific in- A motion to reconsider was laid on affecting forests. An interim report on formation on the effects of atmos- the table. the findings of the National Acid Pre- pheric pollutants. cipitation Assessment Program. in- The National Acid Precipitation Ascluding research on the effects of acid sessment Program. established by en- RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXrain on forests. is more than 2 years actment of the Acid Precipitation Act TENSION ACT AMENDMENTS overdue. The authorization for of 1980. developed a comprehensive re- OF 1987 NAPAP is due to expire in 1990. thus. search program to identify causes and Mr. DE LA GARZA. Mr. Speaker. .I threatening to curtail the research effects of acid precipitation and identi- move to suspend the rules and pass program now in place. fy actions to limit or ameliorate them. -the bill. H.R. 2401 to extend the auH.R. 2399 would establish a 10year The Forest Service was identified as thorization. of the Renewable Reresearch program to study the effects the lead agency for assessing the ter- sources Extension Act of 1978. and for of air pollutants on forest ecosystems. restrial effects of acid precipitation. other purposes. as amended. This bill gives clear direction to the - The Clerk read as follows: It would permit researchers to follow Forest Service to develop and implethe research where it leads them. not ment a 10year program and expand H.R. 2401 restrict them to focus solely on acid the agencys current research and Be it enacted by the Senate and House of rain. The bill would make the Forest survey efforts beyond their focus on Representatives of the United States of Service the lead agency to develop this acid precipitation. or acid rain. America in Congress assembled. research program. aided by a commit-. Of all the stress fators that can in- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. tee of scientific experts in the field. Fi- fluence forest health. air pollution is This Act may be cited as the "Renewable nally. the bill would require that the one of the newest types that trees and Resources Extension Act Amendments of Forest Service generate a series of re- forests have had to accommodate. 1987". ports on the research program. Includ- Many forest scientists have come to SECTION 2.-XTENSION. ing an initial report that spells out the believe that air pollution can make a The Renewable Resources Extension Act kinds of research to be done and an es- tree or forest more susceptible to nat- of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1600 note) is amendedk(1) in Section 6 (16 U.S.C. 1675) by striktimate of the funds needed to do it. An ural stresses. such as insects. disease. ing out the first sentence and Inserting in annual report as well as a final report drought. or winter frost damage. It lieu thereof the following: "There are would also be required to bring the was thought that acid precipitation hereby authorized to be apropriated to imCongress up to speed on what the re- alone might be responsible for produc- plement this Act $12.000.000 for the fiscal searchers are learning and to provide tivity declines. but research is showing year ending September 30. 1988. and some basis for making rational policy that other pollutants. such as ozone. $12.000.000 for each of the next seven fiscal decisions to deal with air pollutants ethylene. and heavy metals. may also years.". and (2) in Section 8 (16 U.S.C. 1671 note) by that may be having a detrimental be fators. Research authorized by striking out "September 30. 1988" and ineffect on forests. this legislation will seek to determine serting in lieu thereof the following: "SepI believe. as I did last year. that this the effects of all air pollutants sus- tember 30. 1955". bill is necessary to get the air pollut- pected of having a significant effect on SECTION & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALant and forest ecosystems research forest ecosystems health. not simply UATION. program on firm footing and headed acid precipitation. Section 5 of the Renewable Resources Exin the right direction in order to Current efforts to monitor air qual- tension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1674) is assure that we ask the right questions ity in forests are limited to acid deposi- amendedand develop the scientific answers to tion. Under this bill. these efforts (1) in subsection (a) by striking out "Conproperly develop policies for control- would be expanded to include other gress" and inserting in lieu thereof the foiling harmful air pollutants. This bill pollutants suspected of affecting lowing: "the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Cornwas favorably reported from stubcom- forest health. mittee on Agriculture. Nutrition. and Formittee and by the full Agriculture Mr. Speaker. H.R. 2399 is identical estry of the Senate" and Committee by unanimous. voice vote. I to legislation which passed the House (2) by adding at the end thereof the folurge my colleagues to support passage last August 13 by a vote of 4164. The lowing new subsection: of H.R. 2399. bill does not contain a specific authori- "(d) To assist Congress and the public in Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of zation for appropriations: the Forest evaluating the Renewable Resources Extenmy time. Service can incorporate these efforts sion Program. the Program shall include a