Southern Air Principles

Protecting and improving air quality is essential to safeguard public health, protect our natural resources and promote the long-term economic vitality of the South. Air quality is a shared resource, and all sectors of society bear a responsibility for improving air quality and protecting our natural resources.

Scientific research and evaluation show that air pollution is not confined to state boundaries, as evidenced by the adverse impacts of air pollution on the Southern Appalachian Mountains and other sensitive areas. Air pollution affects us all regardless of where we live. The southern states are experiencing unprecedented population and economic growth, as well as associated increases in energy and vehicle use. To ensure clean air and a reliable, affordable energy supply, we must develop new strategies to address issues such as regional haze and pollutants that threaten public health and the environment.

Air pollution sources, including power plants, emit multiple pollutants that traditionally are regulated independently. It is recognized that multi-pollution control strategies may significantly reduce environmental impacts; provide more efficient control of environmental pollutants; and support economic competitiveness and cost effectiveness. It is in the public interest to protect and preserve public health and the environment while providing more efficient and cost-effective regulation of pollution sources.

It is critical that the states continue to cooperate through regional partnerships that recognize the unique qualities of each state and offer flexibility to address each state's needs. Therefore, we, the undersigned members of the Southern Governors' Association, hereby agree to the following Southern Air Principles that will enhance local, state, and regional efforts to protect and improve air quality; ensure the protection of public health and welfare of the southern states; and promote the attainment of a high quality of life.

PRINCIPLES

• Each state must do its part to protect and improve air quality.

• Regional air quality problems must be addressed through regional approaches that address each state's unique qualities and needs.

• The southern states must continue to work together to develop and implement new strategies that will improve regional air quality, such as multi-pollutant regulatory strategies for reducing nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and mercury and innovative transportation and energy policies.

Therefore, to fulfill these principles, the chief environmental officers of the signatory states are directed to consult, consider and formulate a proposed joint multi-pollutant strategy; to address the problems of ozone pollution, acid deposition and reduced visibility; to take into account in developing the strategy the information and recommendations provided by the final Southern Appalachian Mountains Initiative (SAMI) report, to provide a progress report to the Governors by December 31, 2001; and to make recommendations on the joint multi-pollutant strategy to the Governors by March 15, 2002.

Signed this ________ day of _______________, 2001.

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