Pollution credits program threatened

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

The head of a subcommittee charged with oversight over an audit of a troubled Clark County Health District pollution program is charging that some district employees and policymakers are willing to scuttle the program rather than risk the audit.

The district Air Quality Division's emission reduction credit program has been the focus of criticism from environmentalists, some staff members and others for years. In response, a legislative air quality subcommittee in October asked the health district to do a thorough independent audit of the program.

The audit could affect the future of the program, which allows companies to buy or trade the rights to put air pollution into the air in return for reducing pollution emissions elsewhere.

Jack Greco, chairman of a three-person subcommittee charged with drawing up the specifications for the audit proposal and evaluating bids, said Tuesday that he believes staff and Clark County District Board of Health members are willing to abandon the ERC program rather than face the audit.

Greco said he is concerned that such a move will leave problems in place within the Air Quality Division, while also cheating companies that have spent thousands in order to accrue air pollution emissions credits.

Staff and health board members are concerned that the audit will uncover widespread problems within the program, he said.

"There appears to be at least some part of the board of health that just feels it's not worth it," Greco said.

Christine Robinson, Air Quality Division director, and Sherry Colquitt, health board chairwoman, disputed the charges.

Robinson and Colquitt said the division and the health board are committed to the audit.

"I am not aware of any movement that Jack is talking about," Colquitt said. "The Air Quality Division has come under such criticism from people that I think it's important that we do it -- to prove them right or prove them wrong."

Robinson said the audit is important to identify and correct any problems with the program.

"My goal is the future," Robinson said. "My goal is making sure we have air quality programs in place for the community."

The audit might find that is would be best to get rid of the program altogether, Robinson added.

But any decision to do away with the ERC would be made by the health board and only after full review and consultation with the private sector, she said.

Greco said he believes the ERC program has entrenched problems that need to be exposed.

"They know there's been a lot of abuse, there's documents missing, there's money that's not accounted for," Greco said. "If the ERC account was a bank, it would have been closed a long time ago.

"We need to find out why it doesn't work."

The ERC program has been a part of the county and health district's efforts to clean up the air in the region. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has labeled the air here as being in "serious nonattainment," violating standards for carbon monoxide and fine dust pollution.

Companies can buy, sell or trade credits for both kinds of major pollution.

The county and health district are working cooperatively to get pollution-control plans to approved by the EPA. Failure to get the plans approved could mean the loss of local zoning control or millions in federal highway funds.

Robinson, who took over the helm of the Air Quality Division about two months ago after a career with the Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department, said the ERC program is a good concept. But the allegations of serious problems need to be addressed in the audit, she said.

"One of my highest priorities is conducting that ERC program audit," she said.

State Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, was a member of the legislative subcommittee that asked for the audit. Greco, she said, is reporting back to her on what is happening with the audit.

"I'm glad Jack is there to keep their feet to the fire," Titus said.

Robinson is clearly less happy about the charges, but said that Greco's participation was requested by the health district administration because he had concerns about the ERC program.

One sticky point remains for the audit. The cost could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the audit is not budgeted for the health district.

Greco charged that money that could be used to pay for the audit is being channeled to other programs.

Robinson, however, said that money will have to be found somewhere, but recent spending allocations approved by the health district board was for dedicated projects.