America's Most Polluted Park

The air quality in Sequoia-Kings Canyon has dropped so rapidly that it's surpassing even Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree as the most polluted.

1 minute read

September 16, 2005, 9:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer


"Over the past few years, ozone at Sequoia for an average of 56 days annually has exceeded the national clean-air benchmark established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Stated more explicitly, ozone reaches or exceeds the standard of .08 ppm eight hours a day, one day out of six during the year. It is a level that is harmful for human health, and it is anathema to the aesthetics of a national park. On clear days you can see 100 miles from Beetle Rock, but park officials say visibility on the worst summer days is less than 10 miles."

Thursday, September 15, 2005 in The Los Angeles Times

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