Crackdown on diesel pollution gets funding

Friday, Aug. 20, 1999 | 8:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Commission Thursday released $100,000 to allow a crackdown on diesel trucks that contribute to the air pollution in Southern Nevada.

The money is going to the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, which will have inspectors checking the trucks to see that they meet emission standards.

Russ Benzler, administrator of compliance enforcement in the department, said the testing will be carried out in construction areas and highly traveled surface streets. Those diesels that don't meet the emission standards will be given citations stating that they must make the repairs or take the vehicles off the road.

The Legislature, at the last session, set aside $500,000 to deal with the issue of air quality in Southern Nevada. The Legislative Commission was given the task of doling out the money.

The commission named Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, to head a study committee on the problem. It will have a budget of about $13,000. But it will have $386,000 to hire a consultant to study air quality.

This consultant must review existing programs, judge their efficiency and recommend programs that will help the county meet federal air quality standards.

The consultant's report must be presented before June 30 next year, and the recommendations of the Porter Committee must be submitted by Oct. 15, 2000, so that bills can be presented to the 2001 Legislature.

Others on the air quality committee are Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, and Assemblymen David Parks and Doug Bache, both Democrats, and Bob Beers, a Republican.