Research by air-quality scientists in Colorado has identified power plants and cement plants as contributors to poor visibility in Rocky Mountain National Park. That research could force the companies to spend considerable amounts on reducing their air pollution.

    A story this week in the Rocky Mountain News says scientists with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have tied pollution from more than a dozen industrial operations to the poor visibility in Rocky Mountain National Park. According to the story, the pollution has reduced visibility on more than 100 days during the past three years.
    Also contributing to the problem, however, are commuters, feedlots, oil and gas exploration, and even the fertilization of agricultural lands.
     By the end of next year state officials are expected to determine whether the plants need to install more pollution controls at their facilities.
    How bad is the visibility? According to National Park Service officials, normal visibility in Rocky Mountain is supposed to let you see for 155 miles, but currently that range has been cut to an average of 94 miles.