Saturday, March 1, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
CARSON CITY - Nevada legislative leaders are raising questions about federal clean air standards - even suggesting that the state's efforts to comply with those standards could be eased.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio and Assembly Speaker Joe Dini complained Friday that Washoe and Clark County residents are being unfairly penalized for not meeting federal air quality standards.
During a budget hearing for the air quality division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Raggio argued that local vehicles aren't the only source of the emissions that push the county into the non-attainment range.
"Washoe County cars have to be tested in order to get registered," Raggio, R-Reno, said. "But with all the traffic from Interstate 80, what good does it do to test these cars?"
Federal air quality laws, under the Clean Air Act passed in 1971, requires emissions tests for counties that fail to meet federal standards for carbon monoxide and ozone.
Both Washoe and Clark counties are "non-attainment" regions. Nevada's rural counties are exempt from the mandatory vehicle testing because they comply.
Dini agreed with Raggio's concerns, saying that southern Nevada's air is impacted by tourist traffic.
"In Las Vegas, the load is coming from the cars that come in from out of state," Dini said. "The testing is tough on the senior citizens who have a fixed income and older cars. That's who gets hurt."
Dini also said that federal restrictions on ozone negatively impact small businesses in the state.
"I've had personal experience where all the air conditioner and refrigerator units in my restaurant and casino need to be converted because you can't get freon any more," Dini said.
"It's a tremendous cost for businesses and a real burden on business people," he said.
Dini said a bill draft has been submitted that would allow the two counties to defy federal air quality standards.
"But it may mean that we could lose some federal grant money if we do that," he said.
Lou Dodgion, administrator of the state's air quality division, said air quality rules are likely to get tougher if the Environmental Protection Agency approves new standards in July.
Now, the state has to monitor for particulate matter that is 10 microns in diameter and smaller, which includes dust. The revised standards would require monitoring for particulates 2.5 microns in diameter, which comes from combustion sources.
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