In N.C. there are many parks that have been or are being affected by air pollution from landfills, power plants, and factories. For example, 80% of the visibility of the Great Smoky Mountains, has decreased. Air pollution is shrinking scenic views, damaging plants, and degrading high elevation streams and soils in the Great Smoky Mountains. Even humans are at risk. Most of the pollution originates outside the park and is created by power plants, industry, and automobiles.The park is downwind from sources of air pollution, including power plants, factories, vehicles, and agriculture. The air pollution causes global warming, and causes wildlife damage. Views from scenic overlooks at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been seriously degraded over the last 50 years by human-made pollution. Annual average visibility at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is 25 miles, compared to natural conditions of 93 miles. The air pollution surrounding the Smokys now is nothing like the mist-like clouds for which the Smoky mountains were named after. This is happening not only in the Smoky mountain national park but all over N.C. and the U.S. We would like to ask you to help us not only help save lives but to help save our World. We are petitioning that there should be a minimum distance a factory, that creates pollution that causes visibility reduction, can be located to a local state park or federal park or forest. We propose that the distance required is half of the distance of the park’s longest dimension. We ask you to please join us in making an effort in changing the world, what we do now could change the world for future generations. We ask you to please join us in making a difference.

What's the point in having a park if you can't even see the view?