Planning board seeks smog checks for diesel trucks

Soon diesel trucks and construction equipment in Clark County may have to undergo smog checks, just as gasoline-powered vehicles do now.

That is what the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority is asking the Nevada Legislature to consider requiring this year.

"We believe diesel engines are making significant contributions to pollution here in Clark County," said John Schlegel, assistant director of the Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning. "It seems only fair that diesel vehicles should have to undergo the same type of testing that other vehicles are today."

The Strategic Planning Authority was created by the Legislature to develop recommendations for state and local government on how Southern Nevada can best cope with growth. They met Thursday to discuss their legislative priorities.

Schlegel said as more people move to the Las Vegas Valley, air pollution is becoming more of a concern.

Schlegel said a 1996 study found that while diesel vehicles only account for 2 percent of vehicles registered in the Las Vegas Valley, they account for 50 percent of the engine-generated particulate matter pollution in the area.

"While we think this is good idea, we expect significant opposition from the trucking and construction industries," he said. "They don't want more regulation of their industries."

Another bill the Strategic Planning Authority is recommending would create a community bond bank that could borrow money at lower interest rates than what smaller municipalities in Clark County can now.

"Lets say, one municipality wants to borrow $15 million to build new fire stations and another municipality wants to borrow $10 million for new parks, instead of doing separate bond issues they could both go to the community bond bank. The bank could issue bonds for $25 million at a lower interest rate than either municipality could," Michael Alastuey, assistant county manager, said.

The authority to create a bond bank must come from the Legislature, so the Strategic Planning Authority also made that request Thursday.

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