Ohio, New York agree on acid rain proposal

In a maneuver to break the Congressional deadlock over legislation to control acid rain, the governors of Ohio and New York have agreed on a formula to limit sulfur dioxide emissions from the combustion of coal, and nitrogen oxides from coal and other sources. Their proposal would come in the form of amendments to the Clean Air Act and could possibly speed acid rain legislation this year. The agreement was about a year in the making and was signed by governors Mario M. Cuomo of New York and Richard F. Celeste of Ohio, both Democrats. For states like Ohio that mine and burn coal, it is seen as an attempt to prevent passage of pending acid rain bills that they feel are too expensive and restrictive. For northeastern states worried about acid rain damage to their lakes and forests, it is regarded as a way to break an impasse that was stymieing any action toward ...