Download:
pdf |
pdfPUBLIC OPINION SURVEY
Haze and Visibility in National Parks and
Wilderness Areas
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Section A. In this section we ask your opinion about some general issues
facing the country.
1.
We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved
easily or inexpensively. Listed below are some of these problems, and for each
one circle whether you think we're spending too much money on it, too little
money, or about the right amount.
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER IN EACH ROW)
TOO
LITTLE
ABOUT
THE
RIGHT
AMOUNT
TOO
MUCH
1
2
3
Space Exploration
1
2
3
Education
1
2
3
Health
1
2
3
Assistance to Other Countries
1
2
3
The Environment
2.
Listed below are some institutions in this country. As far as the people running
these institutions are concerned, would you say you have a great deal of
confidence, only some confidence, or hardly any confidence at all in them?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER IN EACH ROW)
A GREAT
DEAL
ONLY
SOME
HARDLY
ANY
Banks and Financial Institutions
1
2
3
Congress
1
2
3
Scientific Community
1
2
3
Executive Branch of the Federal
Government
1
2
3
Major Companies
1
2
3
Organized Religion
1
2
3
1
Section B. In this section we discuss haze and its effects on visibility.
•
Haze occurs when small particles in the air reduce visibility. There are two types
of haze:
o
Human-caused haze occurs when activities such as burning coal, oil, gas
and wood in power plants, factories, vehicles or homes release particles into
the air.
o
Natural haze occurs when dust is blown into the air and when occasional
forest fires release particles into the air.
•
Scientists have extensively studied haze and have found that there is much more
human-caused haze than natural haze.
•
Scientists have also found that human-caused haze travels farther because the
particles are usually smaller and lighter.
•
The particles that form human-caused haze, particularly those from power plants
with tall smokestacks, can travel hundreds of miles from their sources. Please
see the diagram below:
2
Haze reduces visibility, making it harder to see distant objects such as hills, mountains,
or other landscape features. On hazy days, distant objects fade, appear blurry, change
color, or they disappear from view altogether.
In National Parks and Wilderness Areas visibility conditions are recorded by taking
photographs on a regular schedule. The photographs below show the same view with
different amounts of haze with the same weather conditions.
Less Haze
3.
More Haze
Have you ever experienced haze reducing your ability to view a scenic vista?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
Yes
No
3
Section C. In this section we discuss National Parks and Wilderness
Areas.
In this survey, we will be discussing haze in National Parks and National Wilderness
Areas. Some information on both of these types of areas is presented below:
•
National Parks are public lands containing areas of special scenic, historical, or
ecological importance.
•
They are managed by the National Park Service, an agency of the U.S. Federal
Government.
•
These lands are managed to preserve the scenic, historical and ecological
features, and to provide for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
•
State and local parks are not National Parks.
4.
How does the information above compare to what you previously thought of as
National Parks? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
5.
Similar to what I thought
Different than what I thought
Was not aware of this information about National Parks
•
National Wilderness Areas are public lands that are managed by the National
Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
•
These lands were set aside to be preserved in their natural state to provide
habitat for wildlife.
•
Only non-motorized recreation like backpacking, hunting, fishing, and horseback
riding, as well as scientific research are allowed in National Wilderness Areas.
•
State and local forests and parks are not National Wilderness Areas, neither are
privately-owned forests.
How does the information above compare to what you previously thought of as
National Wilderness Areas? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
Similar to what I thought
Different than what I thought
Was not aware of this information about National Wilderness Areas
4
Please use the map that folds out on the last page of this booklet to help answer
questions in the rest of this survey.
The region circled in red includes one National Park and nine Wilderness Areas. This
region does not include any large cities.
6.
Have you heard of this National Park or any of these Wilderness Areas?
Otter Creek Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
Dolly Sods Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
Shining Rock Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
James River Face Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
Linville Gorge Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
5
NO
YES
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
Sierra Ancha Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
Joyce-Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
Cohutta Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
NO
YES
South Warner Wilderness
NO
YES
If YES, have you visited?
6
NO
YES
Section D. In this section we discuss Human-Caused Haze in National
Parks and Wilderness Areas.
7.
•
Scientists have found that human-caused haze in National Parks and Wilderness
Areas is largely due to particles that travel long distances to these areas.
•
Human-caused haze in National Parks and Wilderness Areas is similar to what is
often called smog in urban areas.
•
Humidity does not cause haze but humidity increases the level of haze when
there are particles present in the air.
On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is not concerned at all and 5 is very concerned,
relative to other environmental problems, how concerned are you about humancaused haze in National Parks and Wilderness Areas?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
NOT
CONCERNED
1
VERY
CONCERNED
2
3
7
4
5
There are four types of activities that result in human-caused haze in this region. These
are shown in the chart below. Research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
indicates how much each activity contributes to the overall level of haze. This
information is summarized in the chart below.
8.
Is there anything about the sources of human caused haze above that you did
not know before reading this survey? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
Yes
No
8
Section E. In this section we discuss ways to reduce Human-Caused
Haze and Improve Visibility Conditions in National Parks and Wilderness
Areas.
•
The U.S. Congress has passed laws calling for reductions in human-caused
haze in National Parks and Wilderness Areas.
•
The laws require states to work together in regional partnerships to reduce
human caused haze in these areas.
•
Regional agreements are needed because the particles that form human-caused
haze can travel hundreds of miles from their source.
•
Haze could be further reduced by:
•
9.
o
Installing improved technology at coal-fired power plants to reduce
emissions.
o
Controlling particles released during oil and natural gas production.
o
Switching power plants and factories to cleaner fuels such as natural gas.
o
Reformulating motor vehicle fuels.
The states shown on your map are considering programs that would reduce haze
in the region circled in red.
Do you think that changes in human activities could reduce haze in the National
Parks and Wilderness Areas located in the region circled in red?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
Yes
No
In the next section of the survey, you will be asked about these programs.
9
Please refer to the picture set that came with your survey booklet.
The photos show visibility conditions that currently occur at National Parks and
Wilderness Areas in this region. The photos are from an area where visibility has been
monitored on a regular schedule. They were taken at the same time of day during the
same season on days without bad weather.
Photos of visibility conditions on each day were sorted from best to worst. The photos
you see were chosen to represent five categories of visibility: A, B, C, D, and E.
•
•
•
Photo A represents the best visibility category.
Photo E represents the worst visibility category.
Each category was selected to represent an equal number of days.
The photos represent the average visibility level for each category. For example, the
worst visibility conditions on average would be like Photo E. Of course, some days in
this category might be a little better and some might be worse.
The chart below shows the percent of the year and number of days in each category.
Each bar represents 20% of the year, which is 73 days
10.
Do you see differences in the levels of haze between photographs….
Photos A and B
Yes
No
Photos D and E
Yes
No
Photos B and C
Yes
No
Photos A and E
Yes
No
Photos C and D
Yes
No
Photos B and D
Yes
No
10
Scientists have estimated the visibility conditions that would exist if there were no
human-caused haze. Of course, even in the absence of haze there would still be some
days when visibility is poor due to bad weather.
The chart below shows current visibility conditions in purple and visibility conditions that
would exist without human-caused haze in orange.
For example, the chart shows that there are currently 73 days with visibility conditions
like Photo A. This would increase to 365 days if there were no human-caused haze.
11
Bar charts like the ones you have been looking at can be used to describe the visibility
improvements that can be achieved by reducing human-caused haze by different
amounts.
As an example, the chart below shows current visibility conditions next to improved
visibility conditions that would result from a specific program.
Different ways of setting up a program to reduce human-caused haze could result in
different levels of visibility improvements. In this particular program, there would be
more days in a typical year with higher levels of visibility like those in Photos A and B,
and fewer days with lower levels of visibility like those in Photos C, D and E.
12
Section F. In this section we discuss other characteristics of programs to
reduce Human-Cause Haze and ask for your opinion on some example
programs.
All particles that form human-caused haze in National Parks and Wilderness Areas
reduce visibility. Some of these particles can also impact the ecosystems in those
areas.
•
Particles that impact ecosystems can affect water quality, soil, plants, and in turn,
the growth and variety of plants and animals.
•
These effects occur very slowly, so most visitors to these areas would not notice
changes in the growth and variety of plants and animals from one year to the
next.
Some ways of setting up a program to reduce human-caused haze would result in a
small reduction in harmful impacts on ecosystems while other ways would have no
effect.
11.
Before reading this survey had you heard anything about the impacts of humancaused haze on ecosystems in National Parks and Wilderness Areas?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
Yes
No
Some of these particles can also impact some people’s health when they visit these
areas.
•
The level of haze at National Parks and National Wilderness Areas is less than
the level that is usually present in urban areas.
•
Few visitors to these areas experience health impacts from the current level of
haze.
•
Some visitors who have respiratory problems may experience coughing or
shortness of breath on days with high levels of human-caused haze.
Some ways of setting up a program to reduce human-caused haze would result in a
small reduction in health impacts to some visitors with respiratory problems while other
ways would have no effect.
12.
Before reading this survey had you heard anything about the impacts of humancaused haze on visitor health in National Parks and Wilderness Areas?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
Yes
No
13
The amount of time required to reach the program goal will depend on how the program
is set up. Any program will steadily reduce human-caused haze in the region circled in
red by controlling more and more sources of particles over time.
For example, if the program takes 10 years, in 5 years the program would be one-half of
the way to achieving its goal. Or, if the program takes 20 years, after 5 years the
program would be one-quarter of the way to achieving its goal.
13.
How important to you is the number of years it takes a program to reach its
improvement goal? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
NOT
IMPORTANT
1
VERY
IMPORTANT
2
3
4
5
Reducing human-caused haze in this region would be accomplished by improving
pollution control equipment and shifting to cleaner, more expensive sources of energy.
The costs of most of these activities would ultimately be passed on to households
through higher prices and taxes.
You would have to pay each year while any program is being implemented. You would
also continue to pay each year after the final improvement goal is reached. This is
because the new pollution control equipment will need to be operated each year and
because the cleaner energy sources are more expensive.
14.
Are you surprised that you would have to pay for a program every year?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
Yes
No
14
Now we are going to ask you for your opinions on five programs to reduce humancaused haze only in the region circled in red on your map.
Each program to reduce human-caused haze will be described in terms of the following
five characteristics:
•
•
•
•
•
The improvement in visibility.
Whether there is a small reduction in harmful ecosystem impacts.
Whether there is a small reduction in the health impacts on some visitors with
respiratory problems.
How many years it would take for the program to reach its final improvement
goal.
The cost to your household every year.
The difference in the characteristics of the programs will depend on what types of
particles are being controlled. Keep in mind that the programs are only designed to
reduce haze in the red circled region. There are other ongoing programs to improve air
quality in cities.
In each question we will ask you to decide whether you would vote for a specific
improvement program.
Please consider the description of the improvement program in each question carefully.
Before you begin, we’d like you to keep something in mind:
Surveys like this one, where people are asked to make choices about programs, are
used to provide information to the government about what public policy issues people
are concerned about and the tradeoffs they are prepared to make.
People sometimes answer “yes,” they would vote for a program at a cost that they really
would not pay. This is because people may not be thinking about the consequences of
paying for the program in terms of their household budget, what they can afford, and
other things they need or want to spend their money on.
Make sure you are aware of the cost to your household when making your choices.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Section G. In this final section we would like to learn more about your
program choices and your background. This information will help us
compare your answers to those of other people. We stress that all of
your answers are strictly confidential.
21.
22.
When you voted on the programs in the previous section did you assume:
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
The programs would mostly reduce haze in the region circled in red on
the map
2
The programs would provide similar reductions in haze in all of the areas
shown on the map, including urban areas.
When you voted on the programs, how important were each of the following
features of the haze reduction programs to you? Rank in order of importance to
you, 1 as the most important and 5 as the least important.
Visibility Improvements
Health Effects
Ecological Effects
Timing
Cost to You
23.
How hard did you find it to answer questions about the haze reduction programs?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
4
Not hard
Somewhat hard
Hard
Very Hard
22
24.
How effective do you think a haze reduction program would be in improving
visibility conditions? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
4
5
25.
Completely effective
Mostly effective
Somewhat effective
Not very effective
Not at all effective
Was there any additional information that you needed when you voted on the
haze reduction programs? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
No
Yes
What?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
26.
There are differing opinions about how far we have gone in this country with
environmental laws and regulations. At present, do you think our environmental
laws and regulations have gone too far, not far enough, or have struck about the
right balance? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
4
27.
Have you ever visited a National Park or Wilderness Area outside the region you
have been looking at on the map? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
28.
Too far
Not far enough
About the right balance
Don’t know
Yes
No
Do you think the amount of federal income tax you have to pay is too high, about
right, or too low?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
Too high
About right
Too low
23
29.
What is your gender? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
30.
Male
Female
What is your age?
_____ YEARS
Are you of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
32.
What is your race? (YOU MAY SELECT MORE THAN ONE)
1
2
3
4
5
33.
Yes
No
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?
(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
No schooling
Some schooling less than grade 12
High school graduate
Some college
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Professional Degree beyond a Bachelor’s
Doctoral Degree
24
34.
Which of the following income categories best describes your household income
last year, before taxes? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
$10,000 or less
$10,001 - $20,000
$20,001 - $30,000
$30,001 - $40,000
$40,001 - $50,000
$50,001 - $60,000
$60,001 - $75,000
7
8
9
10
11
$60,001 - $75,000
$75,001 - $100,000
$100,001 - $125,000
$125,001 - $150,000
$150,001 or more
Thank you for taking the time to
complete this questionnaire!
25
Program 1 Choice Question
15.
Please compare the current conditions without a program to conditions
with Program 1. Then answer the question below as if Program 1 is the
only program available.
Current Conditions
▼
Conditions with
Program 1
▼
Impacts on
Ecosystems
No Change
No Change
Health
Impacts on
Visitors
No Change
No Change
Visibility
Conditions in
this Region
Years to
Reach
Improvement
No Improvement
Cost to Your
Household
Each Year
$0
10 Years to Reach
$65
If there was a vote today to decide whether to do Program 1 or not do this
program, how would you vote? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
I would vote FOR the Program
I would vote AGAINST the Program
16
Program 2 Choice Question
16.
Please compare the current conditions without a program to conditions
with Program 2. Then answer the question below as if Program 2 is the
only program available.
Current Conditions
▼
Conditions with
Program 2
▼
Impacts on
Ecosystems
No Change
No Change
Health
Impacts on
Visitors
No Change
No Change
Visibility
Conditions in
this Region
Years to
Reach
Improvement
No Improvement
Cost to Your
Household
Each Year
$0
20 Years to Reach
$115
If there was a vote today to decide whether to do Program 2 or not do this
program, how would you vote? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
I would vote FOR the Program
I would vote AGAINST the Program
17
Program 3 Choice Question
17.
Please compare the current conditions without a program to conditions
with Program 3. Then answer the question below as if Program 3 is the
only program available.
Current Conditions
▼
Conditions with
Program 3
▼
Impacts on
Ecosystems
No Change
No Change
Health
Impacts on
Visitors
No Change
A Small Reduction
Visibility
Conditions in
this Region
Years to
Reach
Improvement
No Improvement
Cost to Your
Household
Each Year
$0
10 Years to Reach
$65
If there was a vote today to decide whether to do Program 3 or not do this
program, how would you vote? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
I would vote FOR the Program
I would vote AGAINST the Program
18
Program 4 Choice Question
18.
Please compare the current conditions without a program to conditions
with Program 4. Then answer the question below as if Program 4 is the
only program available.
Current Conditions
▼
Conditions with
Program 4
▼
Impacts on
Ecosystems
No Change
No Change
Health
Impacts on
Visitors
No Change
No Change
Years to
Reach
Improvement
No Improvement
20 Years to Reach
Cost to Your
Household
Each Year
$0
$65
Visibility
Conditions in
this Region
If there was a vote today to decide whether to do Program 4 or not do this
program, how would you vote? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
I would vote FOR the Program
I would vote AGAINST the Program
19
Program 5 Choice Question
19.
Please compare the current conditions without a program to conditions
with Program 5. Then answer the question below as if Program 5 is the
only program available.
Current Conditions
▼
Conditions with
Program 5
▼
Impacts on
Ecosystems
No Change
No Change
Health
Impacts on
Visitors
No Change
A Small Reduction
Visibility
Conditions in
this Region
Years to
Reach
Improvement
No Improvement
Cost to Your
Household
Each Year
$0
20 Years to Reach
$115
If there was a vote today to decide whether to do Program 5 or not do this
program, how would you vote? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
I would vote FOR the Program
I would vote AGAINST the Program
20
Program 6 Choice Question
20.
Please compare the current conditions without a program to conditions
with Program 6. Then answer the question below as if Program 6 is the
only program available.
Current Conditions
▼
Conditions with
Program 6
▼
Impacts on
Ecosystems
No Change
No Change
Health
Impacts on
Visitors
No Change
No Change
Years to
Reach
Improvement
No Improvement
20 Years to Reach
Cost to Your
Household
Each Year
$0
$115
Visibility
Conditions in
this Region
If there was a vote today to decide whether to do Program 6 or not do this
program, how would you vote? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
1
2
I would vote FOR the Program
I would vote AGAINST the Program
21
| File Type | application/pdf |
| Author | JohnsonS |
| File Modified | 2012-05-18 |
| File Created | 2012-05-18 |