What EPA Is Doing

Congress created the Acid Rain Program in Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The overall goal of the program is to achieve significant environmental and public health benefits through reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), the primary causes of acid rain. To achieve this goal at the lowest cost to the public, the program employs both traditional and innovative, market-based approaches for controlling air pollution. Specifically, the program seeks to limit, or “cap,” SO₂ emissions from power plants at 8.95 million tons annually starting in 2010, authorizes those plants to trade SO₂ allowances, and reduces NO_x emission rates. In addition, the program encourages energy efficiency and pollution prevention.

There are several ways to reduce acid rain—more properly called acid deposition—ranging from societal changes to individual action. It is critical that acid deposition be reduced, not only in the United States and Canada, but also throughout the world to preserve the integrity of natural habitats, as well as to reduce damage to man-made structures.

EPA has taken steps to limit the amount of NO_x and SO₂ emitted into the atmosphere because they are the main contributors to acid deposition (for more information, see EPA’s Acid Rain Program).

Additionally, individuals and society as a whole can participate in various efforts to help reduce acid deposition:

1. Understand acid deposition’s causes and effects
2. Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes
3. Use alternative energy sources
4. Restore a damaged environment
5. Look to the future
6. Take action as individuals