EPA approves rule to cut haze in national parks Friday, January 12, 2001 WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday approved a regulation that could help clean the air in many of the country's haziest national parks and other wilderness areas. The proposed rule tells states which of the nation's hundreds of older power plants, refineries and other industrial polluters must retrofit their plants with new pollution-control technology. The facilities directly affect air quality in 156 wilderness areas, according to the EPA. The regulation, called the Regional Haze Rule, was first proposed in 1999. It tells states which of its older industrial facilities -- those that began operating between 1962 and 1977 -- must install "best available retrofit technology." Environmentalists praised the measure, saying it will greatly reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants and other sources, reducing haze in the Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains and other wilderness areas throughout the country. "We urge the Bush administration to support and promptly finalize this cost-effective and highly beneficial clean air program," said Environmental Defense attorney Vickie Patton. She added, "This initiative would yield not one but several major societal benefits. It would help cut the haze air pollution in our national parks, produce healthier air in our cities and protect sensitive ecosystems from acid rain." The public now has 60 days to comment on the measure. Haze is caused when light hits tiny particles such as soot, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide emitted by power plants, refineries or natural pollution sources such as forest fires.