Background
The CENRAP is researching visibility-related issues for its region and developing a regional haze plan in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) mandate to protect visibility in Class I areas (national parks and wilderness areas). In support of these research efforts, STI developed emission inventories for pollutants and sources thought to contribute significantly to visibility degradation in the CENRAP states. Pollutants assessed include ammonia, particulate matter (PM), and particulate precursors such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Emission sources evaluated include agricultural activities, on-road mobile sources, non-road mobile sources, and planned burning activities.
Class I Areas in the CENRAP states
Nine states make up the CENRAP region: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Ten Class I areas are located in these states: Caney Creek Wilderness and Upper Buffalo Wilderness, Arkansas; Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana; Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota; Hercules-Glades Wilderness and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri; Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma; Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park , Texas.
