Committee formed to fight air pollution

A new committee has joined the ranks of federal, state and local government groups working on air quality issues.

The Advisory Committee to the Legislative Commission's Subcommittee on Air Quality Programs in Clark County met for the first time Tuesday morning -- mostly in an effort to look at the job before it.

Although there are many other government agencies, committees and commissions working on air quality issues, this one has a unique role, committee members said: The 16-member committee is charged with defining the roles of the state and local agencies in addressing air pollution.

It is an important issue. Clark County is in "serious nonattainment" of breathable dust and carbon monoxide standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The county also is likely to be in the same category within the next year or two for very fine dust and ozone, county air quality planner Russell Roberts told the committee Tuesday.

Lack of progress on the dust or carbon monoxide standards could lead to the loss of federal funds for highways and other programs, or even a federal takeover of air quality programs. The federal government could even halt all construction in the Las Vegas Valley.

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