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Art Williams Fails To Tell All In Courier’s Skewed Story

By Woody Oakes

The Courier-Journal’s lengthy report beginning 7-13-2003 on air pollution in Jefferson County, Kentucky was welcome and very informative, although noticeably skewed.

First, I take issue with the statements attributed to Art Williams, Director of the Jefferson County Air Pollution Control Board.  Mr. Williams did not include some important facts, such as the fact that over 70% of the vehicles driving in Jefferson County each day are from out of county or out of state and are not subject to the VET (Vehicle Exhaust Testing).

As new cars and trucks get better, a great many people are convinced the VET creates more pollution than it eliminates. It appears Mr. Williams is simply trying to save his job. The “Cash Cow” VET is where the bulk of the money comes from to pay his salary and fund the program.

Upon further reflection, many questions arise in my mind, such as, why didn’t the reporter, Mr. James Bruggers, know that over 70% of the vehicles on Jefferson County roads at any given time are not subject to the VET.  Or, if he knew, why didn’t he question Mr. Williams’ statements?

Why no questions or statements about the many VET exempt vehicles and equipment?

Did I miss it in the lengthy report, or was there any discussion of the buying and selling of air pollution credits from one polluting company to another or of how credits from the VET program may actually be used to permit more pollution? 

Who determines if a new company moving into the Metro area will receive any credits and how many? 

How much will they cost, if anything? 

How do they obtain more credits if the company and their pollution grow?

Do these credits have an expiration date? 

Will the company be allowed to sell credits if the company closes down, as Phillip Morris did when it sold credits for an undisclosed amount to the Ford Truck Plant a few years ago?

The Courier-Journal has been for the VET from day one and, it seems to me, is still trying to scare the community and the Politicians into removing the well-deserved death sentence of Oct. 31 from the VET program. 

Does the timing of this entire report seem suspect to anyone but me?

Let’s not forget, the Courier-Journal is always for bigger, bigger, more, more.  How else are they going to increase the sales of advertising and newspapers?  Also let’s not forget how hard the C-J pushed for a $250 million NBA arena.  In retrospect, with the economy in the toilet, does anyone regret not getting such a taxpayer-funded arena, except maybe Mr. J. Bruce Miller?

The Louisville Metro area definitely has an air pollution problem, no question about that. 

However, the legislative process has spoken, and the VET is scheduled to die, so I suggest the C-J just get over it.

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