Friday, Jan. 17, 2003 | 11:28 a.m.
A week after approving a similar plan to curb pollution from fine dust, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has OK'd a plan to control carbon monoxide in Southern Nevada's air.
The Las Vegas Valley had faced severe sanctions, including the loss of millions of dollars in federal highway funding, after being designated in 1997 as a serious non-attainment area for carbon monoxide.
An approval notice for the plan, submitted by Clark County to the EPA, should appear in the Federal Register in about two weeks, and then the public has a 30-day window to comment on the approval.
"We think it's a very good plan," EPA Associate Director Ken Bigos said from San Francisco. "Many of the control measures in the plan are already being implemented and I think that's reflected in the improved air quality in Clark County over the last few years."
County officials submitted their plan to control carbon monoxide, a potentially toxic gas produced by cars and other combustion engines, in August 2000. The plan includes regular smog checks, cleaner-burning gas and more mass transit options for residents.
In July 2001 the department submitted the plan to control fine dust -- particulate matter under 10 microns in diameter, called PM 10. The dust plan was approved on Jan. 9.
Southern Nevada's struggles with carbon monoxide date to the 1980s. In 1985 the Las Vegas Valley logged a record 41 unhealthy air days because of carbon monoxide.
"Southern Nevada's carbon monoxide problems in the '80s sounded the alarm that we had to get serious about dealing with air quality issues," County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said. "Given our record-breaking growth, we simply couldn't afford not to meet EPA standards."
The valley has not exceeded EPA carbon monoxide standards in the more than four years since the county initiated three key programs to curb the problem, said Christine Robinson, director of the county's Air Quality Management Department.
The state has required annual smog checks since 1983.
In 1990 the county required refineries to add ethanol to gasoline sold in the valley from Oct. 1 through March 31 to further dilute pollution. And in 1998 when the county began requiring refineries to reduce the amounts of sulfur and hydrocarbons sold in gasoline from Nov. 1 to March 1 every year. This cleaner-burning gas is needed in the winter months when temperature inversions trap more carbon monoxide over the valley.
Another factor in the improving air quality has been the advancements made by auto manufacturers in developing cleaner engines, officials said.
Sun reporter
Launce Rake contributed this story.
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