Acid precipitation and scientific fallout

Journal Article · · Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6289853

Moynihan, D P

U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from New York believes the nation should set its environmental policies based upon knowledge of the costs and benefits of such policies. For that reason, he defends the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP), despite the program's lack of influence on recent clean-air legislation. [open quotes]Environmentalism is nothing if not an ethic of responsibility,[close quotes] Senator Moynihan writes, [open quotes]and our first responsibility is to the facts-facts about costs and facts about benefits. It is not knowledge that we should fear, but the lack of knowledge.[close quotes] Despite its lack of timeliness and its failure to effectively communicate its findings to laymen, NAPAP provided that knowledge about the effects of acid rain, the senator maintains. [open quotes]NAPAP has given us 10 years of data,[close quotes] he says. [open quotes]Ten years from now, we will have 20 years of data, and 30 years from now we will have 40 years of data, and we will know something about what happens when we intervene in the natural environment. We will know some of the costs and some of the benefits.[close quotes]

• OSTI ID: 6289853
• Journal Information: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN FARPEL; ISSN 0887-8218
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290201* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics-- (1992-)
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LEGISLATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
RAIN
US NAPAP
US ORGANIZATIONS