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EPA has provided the Commissiorl'S Alternatives Ass8SS/T18I'll Commillee with a summary document relating EPA's preliminary findings to the woo oIlhe CommiSSiOn. EPA', final repolt will also be a valuable tool for the Com- ~l,^" to detennine wtlal the effect 01 current plogranw will be on visibllity, With thIS irIIorrT*ion, the Commis8ion will be able to concentrate on whIltMlr additional measures may be needed to ImprOVe Ihal visibility. I Wyoming Aaka to JoIn the CommlMlon Citing the c:ontJibulion oIlndustrial cIevelopment in the Green River V*/ 01 southwest Wyoming to air quality within the Golden Circle. Governor Mike Sullivan has asked Ihal Wyoming be accepted Into the Grand Canyon VIsiblIity Transport Commission, After disc1 "eiO'I, the Commissioners unanimously supported Wyoming', petition. Action by EPA AcIministralor Browner to oIficiaIly add Wyoming to the CommissIon IS expected soon. I CfedlblUty: A CruclIIIMue for the CommlMlon In 1995. the Grand Canyon VISIbility Transport CommIssion will present ita recommendation to the Administrator 01 the EPA. These recommendations will inform the AcImInistrator on wh8t measures (II any) the Commisslon determines are needed to protect and improve visibility In the Golden Circle 01 parks and wlIdemess areas. For these r8CCllM1llndatlo to pI'tlYide reliable guidance to EPA, the Commission process mUSl be open to all Interested parties. The Comrnissionels have worked hard to include government. industry, and emironmental goups as well as the general public in developing their recommendations. As a result, many organizations have offered to provide the Comrr:'f1'~ wIlh lnlormation. Indeed, some have modeled research programs eround information needs 01 the Commission as Ideotlfied in its workplan. One 01 the largest such programs is the VAREO proposal (YJSlbllity ~ for Begional ~mission QIslrlbutions), sponsored by the electric utilities through the Electric Power Research Institute. Outside programs have great potenIiaJ \0 expand and improve the quality 01 information available to ~ . ;~ the Commission. A broad base 01 intomIation can add to the Commission's understanding 01 the issues it faces. However, thel:e may be a danger W the Commission beCOmes too closely identified with any one interest. Thal danger 18 the 1088 01 impartJality or credibility, a loss that could negate the Commission's efforts. '~: r' i-.; (;, (:-: In an effort to dellne the problemS lIr1d patentiall 01 this issue, the Commiesion's working commilteee have each explored the issue. The F1ub1ic AtNdory . CoIMlIttee has taken the malter under lis . . consideration. SUlMl8d up by J8ITl8I Soubv, .Chairman of the Operations Committee, !here are \ 'four concemsthat must be answwed abouI projec;t8 or data supplied by an non-Commlssion group: First, can the outside project ennance the Commission's work? Can It pnMde inlonnallon or views the CommissIon cannot otheIwise obtain? '. ':'. '0' ";.- r,~t ~~ <Y: ~> ~ !~ .;..... r Second, what are the consequencee of ncl cooperating with the 01 Ride group? WI dIra be IoIt, or wlI tne inlomIIIIlon be In . form thIr the CommIssIon cannot ~? Third, can the work of an 0' nIc:l4P group be integrated into the CorMtialon'I work wlthol.t compromising the Comr'-l'oo'1 ~and credibility? And fourth, regardIe88 01 the artIlWetI to the aboYe three oonceme. what wII the putlIIc perception 01 the Commission', coaaboraIIon with outside groups be? Can the public be adequately informed 01 the measures taken to protect the Commission', impartiality? In spite of 8Irf safeguards that are In pI8C8, r the public loses confldence In the Cornr'-.' )0'1 impartiality, its recommendaliolw will not have the nec9SSaIy support and credibility they need. While the utility-sponsored VAREO proposal has raised this issue, other groups are planning 8IudieI based on the Commission's workplan. The Commission 18 estlbll8hing ~ for accepting input from 0I1lSlde groups. IndlvlduaII partlcipating in the Commi8sion proc BII will continue informal consultation wIlh all 0I1lSide groups through the commiltee nMew 8tr\1Ct1J1'8, to insure uuNI data is collected. The CommlI8lon's goal is a set of fair, unbilled and realistic recommendatlons to protect vIsIbIIlly In the Golden Circle. :"'. ~-~~4 ~~~ 1t.1;- ill) ~:,; ~, .~;;: .., ~ .--... -~