Editorial: Strife within agency deserves closer look

Some employees of the health district's Air Quality Division leveled serious allegations this week, accusing high-level officials of basing enforcement decisions on politics. In addition, they told a state legislative panel that the division has fallen behind processing air quality permits. A consultant for the Legislature, who currently is analyzing Southern Nevada's air quality, now will try to gauge the veracity of the employees' charges.

This assessment may not resolve the conflicts, but it is hoped that it can find out exactly what is going on in this important agency. Whatever the consultant finds, it is time for all of these employees to start working together with the same goal in mind: cleaning up our air. The state has reached a critical stage in its compliance with federal anti-pollution standards. Now is not the time for the Air Quality Division to implode.

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