The purpose of the paper is to present the results of a study that assesses the cost and environmental implications of management options for controlling acid rain. Specifically, the paper illustrates the application of a mathematical programming model which identifies sulphur dioxide emission reductions in eastern North America such that total abatement costs are minimized subject to achieving a prescribed acidic deposition objective. The approaches to reduce acidic deposition considered are emission rollback and least cost targetted. The analysis shows that control strategies developed from a least cost targetted perspective are far less costly and no less effective than emission rollback management approaches. A sensitivity analysis of key input parameters and the effect on management options will also be discussed.