August 5, 1976
Page 25884
Mr. GRAVEL. Would the distinguished floor manager of the bill (Mr. MUSKIE) yield for a question?
Mr. MUSKIE. Yes.
Mr. GRAVEL. An important body — the National Commission on Air Quality — is created and charged in the committee bill with far reaching and important duties, among which include a study of the significant deterioration provision. With regard to the issue of significant deterioration, I would ask the floor manager if the study is to consider the increments for sulfur dioxide and total suspended particulate matter established by the measure currently under consideration.
Mr. MUSKIE. Yes. The National Commission on Air Quality is directed by the committee bill as amended by the amendment of the chairman of the Public Works Committee (Mr. RANDOLPH) to study all issues — economic, environmental and social — raised by the significant deterioration provision.
Mr. GRAVEL. I thank the Senator for his response. Let me say that I am concerned about problems surrounding the current method of using total suspended particulate matter in determining air quality. Present use makes little distinction between the size of particles, the composition and nature of those particles, or the origin of the particulate matter.
Many areas of this country periodically exceed the increments established for particulate matter due to dust which originates from natural sources. In Alaska this is a matter of great concern since many uninhabited areas of the State exceed particulate standards due to dust generated from glacial outwash areas, dry riverbeds and other such areas. Other Western States have similar problems. I am concerned that the Commission should give close attention to the question of natural background levels of pollutants most especially in the Western States.
Mr. MUSKIE. The Senator from New Mexico (Mr. DOMENICI) had a similar concern, which we discussed extensively last week on the floor. That discussion emphasized the need for the Commission study, and appeared in the RECORD on July 27, from pages S12552 through S12554. So the Senator's concerns are shared by the rest of the committee.
Mr. GRAVEL. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Maine (Mr. MUSKIE) for this helpful discussion. I believe that it is paramount that the Congress have an impartial study of this important subject. The report of the National Commission of Air Quality established by S. 3219 will provide impartiality.