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Vehicle
Emissions Testing (VET) Program and Air Pollution Credits Emit a Foul Odor
by George Baumler
Recent articles in The Courier-Journal indicate that the VET is in
fact subsidizing industrial pollution, and the VET is taking credit for
pollution reductions it doesn’t generate.
See:
July
26, 2001 Car-emission study might fuel battle - National report
says some programs overestimate success in pollution cuts:http://www.courier-journal.co
m/localnews/2001/07/26/ke072601s56
615.htm
Pollution
regulation seminar set - Public to get a look into permit process http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews
/2001/09/09/ky_air.htm
Projects
may affect air, water - New power plants spark concern Emissions could
force vehicle tests, other measures
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews
/2001/07/16/ke071601s51342.htm
EPA
may rule area compliant on ozone - Environmentalist warns he'll oppose
better designation http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews
/2001/06/19/ke061901s39479.htm
Still, the Air Pollution Control District maintains the position
that the VET is vital for reducing air pollution.
The NAS study indicates reduction only from ZERO to fifty percent
of the amount claimed by the VET and APCD.
Every time Libertarians or anyone makes noise about getting rid of
the VET, we’re told “the air in Jefferson County is not in
compliance”. That the air
is polluted does not seem to hamper the APCD from issuing permits to
Rubbertown industries. Of
course, if the air were actually out of compliance, then such permits
would be out of the question; the only thing on the table would be
reductions. Indeed, we later
learned that the air is in compliance with EPA standards.
As recently Aug 24th, Art Williams, in a “Business
First” letter, reiterated his claim of saving 28,000 tons of air
pollutants via the VET program. I
assume he has access to the NAS study, which contradicts his statement.
He also indicated there are two kinds of pollution credits: one for
businesses that can be traded for big dollars and one for APCD under the
SIP (State Implementation Program) in which non tradable credits are
stripped from motorists and are used to offset industrial pollution.
Would he also have us believe there are two different kinds of air
in Jefferson County?
(Editor’s note: We
greatly appreciate George Baumler’s willingness to wade through the
labyrinth of rules and regulations in order to get to the underlying
issues behind VET testing. While
it is in the interest of bureaucrats to complicate matters beyond
people’s ability to comprehend, so they can do whatever they want, it is
in the interest of the people to cut through the nonsense so they can hold
their elected officials accountable.
George’s work helps make that possible.)
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