Coalition Supports EPA’s Proposed Disapproval of West Virginia’s Regional Haze Plan

Allegheny County Clean Air Now (ACCAN) * Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance Appalachian Mountain Advocates * Appalachian Voices * Breathe Project Carnegie Mellon University, CREATE Lab * Center for Coalfield Justice Christians For The Mountains * Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Eight Rivers Council * Elks Run Watershed Group Greenbrier River Watershed Association, Inc. * National Parks Conservation Association Ohio Valley Environmental Advocates, Inc. Pittsburghers Against Single-Use Plastic (PASUP) Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania * Protect PT Rail Pollution Protection Pittsburgh (RP3) * Speak For The Trees Too West Virginia Citizen Action * West Virginia Highlands Conservancy West Virginia Rivers Coalition * West Virginians for Energy Freedom

February 20, 2025

Dear Mr. Yarina,

On behalf of the undersigned organizations across West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, we write to support EPA’s proposed disapproval of West Virginia’s Regional Haze plan for the second planning period. The organizations represented on this letter are concerned with the pollution from coal plants and other industrial facilities operating in West Virginia that emit haze-causing pollution that mars scenic vistas in our parks and wilderness areas and also harms the health of our communities. We applaud the EPA for proposing a disapproval of West Virginia’s flawed regional haze plan.

The only state completely in the Appalachian Mountain range, West Virginia is home to rugged and hilly landscapes, wild and winding rivers, and some of the darkest starry skies. Protecting our air in the Mountain State means helping to preserve an invaluable asset to the thriving tourism and outdoor recreation economy, including West Virginia’s national parks and public lands. In 2023, tourism at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River contributed $96.5 million to the local economy.¹National Park Service, National Park Visitor Spending Effects, 2023: https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/news/tourism-at-the-three-national-parks-in-southern-west-virginia-contributed-96- 5-million-to-local-economy.htm These parks in southern West Virginia are popular destinations for a bustling outdoor recreation industry including whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, climbing, and even B.A.S.E. jumping once a year on Bridge Day. Cutting pollution that dirties the air from our state is important for West Virginians, our mountain scenic landscapes and our families now and for generations to come.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) produced a plan that will do nothing to clear the air of haze pollution in West Virginia, communities and Class I areas across the Mid-Atlantic. In developing its haze plan, WVDEP relied on a shared, flawed modeling system, created by the regional planning organization called VISTAS. In relying on the VISTAS approach, WVDEP ignored nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and huge polluters across the state that emit harmful pollution that degrades the air quality in our parks and wilderness areas. WVDEP improperly concluded that no new reductions in pollution were warranted even though many polluting facilities were not even analyzed.

EPA’s strong proposed disapproval of WVDEP’s weak and deficient plan will help ensure West Virginia’s polluters are held accountable for the pollution they emit that mars scenic views and dirties our air. EPA correctly identifies how WVDEP’s Regional Haze plan fails to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and Regional Haze Rule and how it is ineffective at achieving reasonable progress. We urge you to promptly finalize the disapproval to ensure improved visibility and air quality in parks and our communities.

This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to preserve scenic vistas for future generations, keep West Virginia’s tourism thriving, and protect the health of all who live here and enjoy West Virginia’s treasured public lands.

Sincerely,

Click here to read submitted Techincal Comments.

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  National Park Service, National Park Visitor Spending Effects, 2023: https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/news/tourism-at-the-three-national-parks-in-southern-west-virginia-contributed-96- 5-million-to-local-economy.htm