County launching latest anti-dust campaign

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

With one unhealthy day caused by dust last month and threats Monday of another because of high winds, Clark County officials today were to kick off their latest anti-dust campaign to try to cut down on the pollutant in the Las Vegas Valley.

The campaign is aimed at educating residents about what causes dust problems and what can be done to avoid them -- suggestions as simple as: Do not drive on unpaved road shoulders and avoid walking across vacant, dirt-covered lots.

The Environmental Protection Agency designated the Las Vegas Valley as a "serious non-attainment area" for dust in 1993. Last week the EPA approved the county's plan to clean up the air by 2006.

"We want to keep the desert crust undisturbed," said Bob Folle, compliance manager at the county's Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management. "We are working closely with the construction industry and have received cooperation with dust control management."

There's only so much that people in Clark County can control, however. On Monday Clark County Air Quality issued an air quality advisory for dust because winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts of 45 mph were expected.

Only the Apex air monitoring station in the northeast corner of Clark County, beyond the Las Vegas Valley, reached an unhealthy level of ozone yesterday, and then only for sensitive groups. Several other stations, however, peaked close to that level.

"We've noticed that high winds and high ozones go hand in hand," Koswan said.

Authorities are still studying the connection, but the wind may cause the air to mix with pollutants and create additional ozone, he said.

Other pollutants remained at moderate levels Tuesday, Koswan said.

Folle said in such "high-wind events," the Environmental Protection Agency will not penalize the county for unhealthy readings on valley pollution monitoring stations as long as the county has done all it can do to prevent earth disturbances that add to problems the winds kick up.

That is because of the EPA's approval of the dust control plan.

The plan requires the county to issue news releases as it did Monday for high winds. It also must send wind advisory faxes to 1,200 construction firms.

Firms that do not comply are issued citations, Folle said.

"We are a front-runner on enforcement with some of the most rigorous rules in the country for dust," Folle said.

The only unhealthy day for dust this year was April 28, Folle said. There were four unhealthy days for dust last year.

The consequences for non-attainment include the potential loss of millions of dollars in federal highway funds, not to mention potential significant public health problems.

Dust "can affect the respiratory system and cause problems for children with asthma, the elderly and adults with obstructive pulmonary or lung diseases," such as bronchitis and emphysema, Clark County Health District Chief Health Officer Dr. Donald Kwalik, said.

"Also, healthy people, including long-distance runners and tennis players, should avoid strenuous activity during an air quality advisory because they, too, can suffer symptoms, including difficulty breathing."

The new anti-dust campaign will feature the character "Dusty the Dusthole" in 30-second TV commercials and ads in newspapers that will focus on efforts to keep vacant lands undisturbed. Recommendations in the ads include riding off-road vehicles outside urban areas.