Dear Gabby:   We moved to Marathon, Texas six years ago, partly because of its proximity to Big Bend National Park, 69 miles away. I'm normally not a complainer, but dur- ing the short time we have lived here, "good visibility" days at Big Bend have gone from 200-300 per year down to somehing like 10 to 15. Known for its pris- tine air and extraord- inary views, sulpher particles now form a haze that reduces vis- ibilty and increases health risks, especially for children and the elderly. They say that emissions from Carbon I and and Carbon II plants in Mexico, com- bined with emissions from Texas sources, threaten to turn the Lone  Star  State's second ranked tourist attraction  into  a second rank national park. I think some- body's messed with Texas.
  --Around the Bend

Dear Around the Bend: "Good visibility" days are unfortunately becoming less and less frequent across the United States. Which leads to the question of how much loss in visiblity must we exper- ience before America sees clearly the extent to which we have an air-quality problem? How many times must we be told by park rangers "not to exert ourselves" because this or that national park is having a bad air day? You are not the only one who may be feeling 'around the bend' on this issue. Others wonder how long before the term, "national park," will become an oxymoron.

Dear Gabby

Dear Gabby:
The Lord said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth," (Genesis 1:26). It's pretty obvious by this passage what the priorities were meant to be. So to hell with those antidevelopment, tree-hugging, environ- mental elitists. They are defying God's laws and the laws of Nature.
  --Butte, Montana

Dear Butte:
Creepy! But as I recall, nowhere in the Bible does it actually say that developers shall have dominion over the earth, or that fish shall come out of polluted seas, or that birds shall inhabit foul air-- or, that urban creep shall sprawl man's landscape. It is, perhaps, moreso  the  laws  of Nurture that are at issue.

Dear Gabby: The Agricultural Act of 2001 (RH 2646) is literally a "dirty deal." Bad for the farmer, the taxpayer, the environment. However, the Boehlert-Kind amendment, is a positive rider meant to remedy a bad situation. Who in their right mind can be against improving water quality, or protection of our wetlands, forests, and wild life habitat?
--Founder: Operation Enduring Environment

Dear Founder: Let us just say that, in general, the further to the right one's mind is, the greater the need for vigilance.

Dear Gabby:
My fear now is that the Administration will, in the wake of the horrific Trade Towers mass- acre, trot  out  this historic tragedy as further reason why we must drill for oil in places like Alaska and off   the  coast   of California.  Am I being unpatriotic  in  my insistence that we stick with those sound en- vironmental arguments already  set  forth regarding such fragile land and seascapes?
Is  it  fair  for  the governmnet to engage in crisis-management to peddle their one- sided agenda, even in the face of a great body of literature to the contrary? Are these guys tome deaf, already?
  --John of NYC

Dear John:
I am not so sure you are altogether alone in your concerns.   It doesn't take a rock scientist to realize the risks to the environ- ment, and resident species, of drilling in what little is left of nature's greatest gifts to humankind. We who are worried about the environment must be wary of those who become alarmed and dangerous, In the contest between the oil interests  and  the environmentalists, it would  be  wise  to realize that this is a leveraged playing field, involving raw power, and raw materials. Still, what could be more American than to work toward preserving for our children, and for their children, some semblance  of  the untamed, untapped, and the undeveloped?

   Aries
(March 21-April 19):
Take the environmental initiative. Follow cour- age of convictions. You will become ener- gized. Leo plays sig- nificant role.
   Taurus
(April 20 - May 20):
Focus on pollution issues. Don't wait for others. Lead and they will follow. Member who was belligerent will make concession.
   Gemini
(May 21-July 22):
Interest in endangered species  will  peak. Refuse to be deceived by well financed dev- elopers. Attention revolves  around community coalition.
   Cancer
(June 21-July 22):
Reach out to others and  seek  relevant information.  Help peo- ple balance their needs with the require- ments of a healthy planet.   Attractive Scorpio enters picture.

Your Zodiac

   Leo
(July 23-Aug.22):
Lunar cycle high. Give in to your reverence for the untamed. Focus on rustic harmony. Keep resolutions concerning the environment.
   Virgo
(Aug.23-Sept.22):
Let go of relationship that is blindly global. Maintain creative con- trol, welcome change. Libra plays supportive role.
   Libra
(Sept.23-Oct.22):
Emphasis is on "safe harbor"--a natural set- ting and retreat from urban sprawl. Give full play to kinship with the unspoiled.
   Scorpio
(Oct.23-Nov.21):
Be clear about your concerns. Environmental basics need to be hon- ored. You are a valuable player in the natural scheme of things.

   Sagittarius
(Nov.22-Dec.21):
Proactivism an attrac- tive outlet for creative energies. Protect self in intellectual clinches. If at first you don't suc- ceed, read the direc- tions. Pisces figures prominently.
   Capricorn
(Dec.22-Jan.19):
Press hard to preserve open spaces in your community. Door that had been slammed shut will open. Focus on proposals that will make a difference.
   Aquarius
(Jan.20-Feb.18):
Your pro- environment stance will make you center of attention. You exude a "friend of nature" aura that is infectious. Sagittarius in the picture.
   Pisces
(Feb.19 - March 20):
Accent on passion for biodiversity. Look behind the scenes for the facts. Meaningful actions soon follow. Beware of developer in tree-hugger clothing.