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Show Garn favors both IPP and Clean Air In a letter to Senate Environment En-vironment and Public Works Committee Chair man, Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WVa), Senator Jake Garn said he favors Class I status for air over Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Parks but that he also favors construction of the In-termountain In-termountain Power Project. "Apparently, it is widely thought that I should oppose the Interior Department study of air over the Parks and the Class I designation which might result from it," said Senator Garn. "I do not oppose the concept of pristine air. Specifically, the areas of the country which have been set aside as National Parks ought to have the best possible air. That includes Capitol Reef National Park. "How can I square that belief with my firm support for the Intermountain Power Project? The fact is that the IPP will not jeopardize air quality over Capitol Reef. Because of Utah's mountainous moun-tainous terrain, we have a problem that is uncommon in other states. Computer projections indicate that on perhaps 13 days a year, the plume from the Intermountain In-termountain Power Project might be blown over Capitol Reef, though even that is far from certain. Hut if it did, it would impact on only a few of the high mountains in the remotest sections of the Park during the months when it is least frequented. There would be no lasting impact. Garn said, "Therefore, a Class I designation is not inconsistent with the construction con-struction of the IPP, provided sufficient flexibility is retained in clean air legislation to permit local officials to exercise their common sense and good judgement." |