County clears hurdle for dust

Friday, Feb. 1, 2002 | 11:17 a.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that Clark County's plan for dealing with airborne dust pollution is "complete," a key step in approving the overall approach to the problem.

The letter giving the tentative stamp-of-approval means the region will avoid potentially harsh sanctions, including a loss of some federal funding for roads and other needs.

"It was signed late last night," EPA Associate Director Ken Bigos said. "It is now official. What this letter does is permanently stop the sanctions clock for the Las Vegas Valley."

The "sanctions clock" started Dec. 20, 2000, when the county -- the designated air-quality agency for the region -- failed to deliver a plan to curb dust on time.

The dust, called particulate matter 10 or PM10, is finer than the width of a human hair. The federal government considers it a health risk.

Environmentalists said the news is positive.

"This is a plan that is really, really important to us," said Jane Feldman, conservation committee co-chairwoman from the local arm of the Sierra Club.

Feldman said dust has been linked to a wide range of human health problems, including asthma and other respiratory ailments.

"Are we going to be seeing a difference sometime soon? We hope the answer is yes," she said.

Carrie MacDougall, Clark County Air Quality Management assistant director, said the region's dust-control efforts already are paying off.

The region hasn't exceeded the federal annual dust standard in three years. The area has had a handful of violations of the 24-hour dust standard.

MacDougall said her agency expects to meet the 24-hour rules by the end of 2006.

The completeness ruling doesn't mean the work locally is finished.

"The plan doesn't go away," MacDougall said.