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STOP THE VET (Vehicle Emissions Testing)

By Terry Gray

V.E.T., AGAIN

Greater Louisville Inc. says that without the VET, air pollution could become so bad in Louisville that some businesses may have to pack up and leave.  They fear we would lose jobs and most of all some of our tax base.  They don’t mention the tax base, though.  TAX BASE, TAX BASE, TAX BASE!  There, now it’s out.  These companies need to comply or move.  The idea is simply this:  “To keep our TAX BASE, we’ll show the Federal government that we are trying to reduce emission through VET testing.  This way we’ll keep the Feds off our backs, keep our TAX BASE and make some bucks with the VET too.”  Hey what a concept. 

Why do we want businesses here that can’t conform to the pollution standards?  What happened to white collar E-Main?

I’ve done some more research and found that 98% of the vehicles that VET tests pass.  That leaves 2% of the vehicles to do the foul deed of providing us with bad air days.  How can that be?  Greater Louisville Inc. is trying to tell us that the drivers of 2 cars out of 100 cars are responsible for the possible closing of Louisville businesses and loss of jobs.  I say track these irresponsible drivers down and lynch them.  Hang ‘em high!

We get back to the fact that diesels, buses, big commercial vehicles, old cars, out of county cars, and factories still belch out unchecked pollutants.  We get back to the fact that the people who comply with the emissions standards are required to continue to support those that don’t test or don’t comply.

With whom is the owner of VET sleeping?  That guy must be real good in bed or his government lover is damned ugly and desperate.

Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District and West Jefferson County Task Force have identified 26 toxic pollutants presenting the most risks and 4 of those are highlighted.  The four are:  1,3-Butadiene, Acrylonitrile, Chromium, and Carbon Tetrachloride.  In all of my research, I have none of these pollutants mentioned as a vehicle emissions item, and I only found two mentioned at all.  Those were Chromium and Carbon Tetra.  Please click on the links to see the graph of from where these pollutants hail.  Chromium and Carbon Tetra.  I don’t see anything about automobiles.

I found out that from 1989 to 1998, these pollutants in our air dropped as follows:  Lead-56%, Carbon Dioxide-39%, Sulfur Dioxide-39%, Coarse P.M.-25%, Nitrogen Dioxide-14%, and Smog-4%.  I also found out that in 1965 a typical car produced 1 ton (2,000 pounds) of pollutants, in 1998-50 pounds annually, and it is projected that in 2010 that a typical car will produce 10 pounds annually.  “California Air Resources Board.”  I guess the VET is responsible for this reduction?

The biggest polluter in our area is the New Albany CINergy plant, blessing us with 2.9 million pounds of sweet air annually.

Want more?  Try www.epa.gov.  You’ll have to look around in the site because the link is too long to insert here.  Here are a few interesting bits of information.

TRI On-site and Off-site Reported Releases (in pounds), for facilities in All Industries, for All Chemicals, Jefferson County, Kentucky, 2001

Well you get the general idea.  Click on any of the plants to see what chemicals they toss into our air.  I was kind of surprised at Mother’s Cookie Co.  All of their emissions are ammonia.  Who is buying these cookies?

The bottom line?  Cars pollute, without a doubt, and this pollution created a problem a few years ago which the EPA addressed by legislating tougher emissions standards for automobiles.  As the years rolled by and cars became cleaner and cleaner, our fearless leaders opened the door to allow more “dirty” air from our factories.  They thought they could use the lack of pollutants that our cars emit to allow the opening of more plants and increase their TAX BASE.  More plants meant more jobs and an open ticket for politicians to pat themselves on the backs for their far-sightedness in dealing with people needing work.  Meanwhile, the EPA noted the air quality slipping and politicians clambered to appease the Feds in order to keep their TAX BASE.  Creative thinking came up with a way to gloss over the apparent greed associated with new jobs and new factories and the VET was born.

As you sit in line waiting to get your car tested, try to get a view of the skyline.  See the plumes?  You are buying that smog with your hard earned dollars while factory hotshots, VET Center owners, and our leaders smile and spend your bucks.

I’ve said my piece.  Please see John Riley's speech to the Kentucky Senate.  John says it better than I have here. 

Terry Gray

Strider1@insightbb.com

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