THE GUARDIAN noted at the bottom of page 12 in the September 12th edition of TIME MAGAZINE there was a cute little green car. Curiosity drew my eyes to the short piece on ENVIRONMENT in the Briefing section. Here is what was printed:
"One state is saying goodbye to long lines, incomprehensible readouts and $15 fees. Washington State's ecology department has announced that thanks to improved air quality and more efficient engines, it will phase out vehicle emissions testing by 2020. The 30-year old antipollution programs, matched in many states, requires a trip to a testing center once every two years, or annually for vehicles more than five years old, in one of the nation's greenest states."
Meanwhile, in the Great State of Idaho we continue to badger, threaten and rain down all manner of punishment on people who fail to take their vehicles in for testing so the Idaho DEQ can cash in on a potion of the fees collected at testing sites all over Treasure Valley. What is really confounding about the forced testing on vehicle owners is the data trends are we are nowhere near going out of compliance with air quality standards set by the EPA.
Old sludge box engines are going to the scrap heap in ever increasing numbers and new cars are engineered to squeeze every mile they can out of a gallon of gas and continue to be cleaner and greener with each passing year. We think it time for our Idaho Legislature to enact a legislative end to vehicle emissions this next legislative session.
Yes the 72 Ford pickups running around the valley will be a thing of the past if not already. The unintended benefit of 3.79 per gallon gasoline has been the demise of the clunkers that get 10 to 15 mpg. Who says high gas prices aren't good for us!
ReplyDeleteAnd one more thing. What the hell good does it do for the morons at the DEQ to issue an air quality alert? I would assert that almost no one, except maybe Boise north enders, change their outdoor plans because we're in alert status. I think these alerts are sent out just to make the public scared of not depending on DEQ or EPA to tell us when we can breathe. Maybe since we're in alert status I'll not mind quite as much getting my car emission tested. There's very little that can be done regarding our air quality. Mother nature is in charge, not us. Maybe if the north enders would scrap their 74 Volvo wagons and Saabs it would help. I'm done.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I can't say the alerts do one darn thing. I drive by seeing people burning trash, weeds and other crap on days you cant see the Boise Front due to bad air quality. It is beyond my ability to understand these people who go out of their way to compound an already bad situation. They just can't back off and wait a few days until the air clears to do their burning.
ReplyDeletePeople with Asthma and other respiratory disorders really suffer in conditions like we had on Saturday. I know because I am one of them and I am not a smoker but had the misfortune to grow up in a city with severely polluted air and now in my later years I am having to deal with Asthma.
Emissions testing does very little to improve air quality and the DEQ people know it. It is their attempt to garner yet another revenue stream. What will do more for air quality is high gas prices. If my car is not running right it doesn't take much time to rack up some expensive driving time with poor gas mileage. Cars today may be a lot more fragile in the build quality but they sure are a lot more fuel efficient and safer for everyone concerned. I would love to see the Idaho Legislature kiss this program good-bye with a quick and painless legislative death knell.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul:
ReplyDeleteMost interesting. No science needed. Truth is that it isn't needed even now, much less to 2015. What I think about is how huge the economic loss is to King County's economy. There has to be 750,000 cars tested every year up there (2000 population 1,875,000). In Oregon, the cost is over $20. If it were the same in King County, that would be $15 million per year and at least a $30 million loss to the economy. Every 10 years = $300 million. For what? NOTHING! As shown in by EPA, new cars reduced NOx by 50% 1999-2010 and will reduce NOx by another 30% by 2015. Dumbkoffs.
Al
The law that gave DEQ the right to continue to impose VET in Ada and Canyon counties for 5 years required that vehicle emissions of NOx and VOC be one of the top two sources that contribute to ozone. ENVIRON charts show VOC to be #3 or #4. Therefore, with NOx being #1 or #2 all the time, NOx is the only reason we have VET! VET is supposed to reduce NOx. But DEQ knew from the 2003 Stockman Report and 2008 Desert Research Report that reduced NOx INCREASES ozone as proven by the "weekend effect" higher ozone readings. Canyon County VET reduces NOx by 114 tons - 2% of the total in Treasure Valley. Cost: $600,000 at an economic loss of at least $1.2 million! Florida, Texas, Minnesota repealed VET in 1999. Kentucky repealed VET in 2003. EPA told Minnesota that it would not affect ozone - 7 counties; 2,730,000 population.
ReplyDeleteAda County's economic loss 2002-2010: $72 million minimum.
Treasure Valley is in attainment. EPA requires VET only in areas of NONattainment. DEQ's administrative rule did not follow 39-107D that required DEQ to use "current peer reviewed science and data" should be declared null and void.
2008, 2009, 2010 3-year ozone 4th highest readings averaged .068. The standard is .075.
I agree: the legislature must repeal SB1142 and HB586 to get rid of VET in all of Idaho. These laws were based on known faulty science and deliberately worded to achieve the goal of VET in Canyon County.
There is so much more to this issue: Example is that new cars will reduce NOx 103 tons further each year accumulatively 2010-2015, a 30% further reduction after the 50% reduction 1999-2010.
Our air is cleaner today than in 1999 and will be getting cleaner to 2020. TRUTH!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete