Period 5, Group G, 2nd Draft

Dear Senator Johnson,

My name is Dr. Adam Miller, a scientist studying the effects of acid rain on the environment with several other colleagues at the Brookings Institution. We have been studying forest ecosystems across the country in hope of better understanding the detrimental effects of acid rain in these ecosystems. We have come to many conclusions in our research, and that is why I am writing on behalf of all of us here at the Brookings Institution.

It has come to our attention that you voted in favor of the Clean Air Interstate Rule. While we applaud you for this vote to reduce sulfur emissions, this piece of legislation has proved ineffective. The Clean Air Interstate Rule has eliminated the ecological gains of the U.S. Clean Air Act. We strongly urge you to help right this terrible wrong.

It has been shown time and time again that acid rain is increasingly harmful to our environment. It is caused by sulfur and nitrogen emissions which mix with water in the atmosphere to create acid rain. The acid rain then mixes into the soil and creates more problems. The acid neutralizes the minerals in the soil such as calcium. Without these precious nutrients, plants are unable to grow. This does horrendous damage to the ecosystem. It also exacerbates the problem of global warming. When there are fewer plants to get rid of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and put oxygen back into the atmosphere, global warming accelerates.

Our research shows that ecosystems take a long time to recover from the effects of acid rain. It will take tens, if not hundreds, of years for the levels of soil nutrients to return to levels seen before the Industrial Revolution. However, by reducing sulfur and nitrogen emissions, we can assist the return of ecosystems to a natural state. The Clean Air Act accomplished this, reducing sulfur emissions by 67%, allowing ecosystems to regenerate. Unfortunately, the Clean Air Interstate Rule has gotten rid of those gains and is threatening to return to our old ways of polluting the environment and causing acid rain.

And so, we scientists urge you to push for new legislation. We wish to see you get rid of the new Clean Air Interstate Rule and to reinstate the Clean Air Act. Why should we have gotten rid of something that worked so well? We urge you to be the spear point for reform. This needs to be a priority, not only for the environment, but for the sake of the human race. We hope to be hearing, sometime in the near future, of new reform coming from Washington and wish you luck in this endeavor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Miller and the scientists of the Brookings Institution