Hikers' efforts to protect America's forests from acid deposition got a big boost in December when the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that power plants in 12 states must dramatically reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.Along with sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide emissions drift east from midwestern plants and acidify rainfall in the highlands of the Appalachians and the Adirondacks, killing trees and degrading soils and streams.

American Hiking Society and AHS Alliance members, the Adirondack Mountain Club, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and Appalachian Mountain Club have been working together to win passage of Congressional legislation aimed at creating new air quality regulations that would limit acid deposition.

The EPA ruling is just the latest in a series of actions by the agency and eastern states to enforce existing clean air standards. It was prompted by a petition from four Northeastern states and comes after a broader EPA strategy to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in 22 states was stalled by federal court rulings. Prior to the new ruling, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed lawsuits against several Midwestern power plants and New York Governor, George Pataki set nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions standards for the state that match the EPA requirements.

Hikers hope the recent spotlight on air quality and acid rain helps win pollution controls that will stop the destruction of the region's forests, lakes and streams.

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