VEGAS VALLEY'S HAZY FUTURE?
The future air quality of the Las Vegas Valley is a dusty grey/brown if Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio and Assembly Speaker Bill Dini have their way. They seem to think that theFederal Government is treating Washoe and Clark Counties unfairly for not meeting federal air quality standards.
During a budget hearing for the air quality division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Raggio argued that local vehicles aren't the only source of the emissions pushing the county into the non-attainment range. "Washoe County cars have to be tested in order to get registered," said Raggio, R-Reno. "But with all the traffic from Inter- state 80, what good does if do to test these cars?" Dini D-Yerington, agreed with Raggio's concerns, saying Southern Nevada's air is affected by tourist traffic. "In Las Vegas, the load is coming from the cars that come in from out of state," Dini said.
Most of Nevada's tourist generated vehicular traffic comes from California. This state has much more stringent emissions requirements. It seems misplaced to blame the brunt of our air pollution on this. If Nevada traffic that originates outside of the nonattainment counties of Clark and Washoe are causing pollution problems in these counties, maybe the State's Legislature should go beyond Federal statutes and apply emission testing standards to all vehicles in the state. That would ensure that persons living in the "cow counties", but working in Clark or Washoe Counties, or those who simply rent a post-office box in an smaller county to avoid emissions testing, would also do their part to help clean up the air. If the whole state benefits from the "economic boon" created by our mad Malthusian growth, should not the whole state help with the costs of its downside?
Dini further showed his callous lack of concern towards the Earth's future by saying,
federal restrictions on ozone negatively affect small businesses in the state. "I've had personal experience where all the air conditioner and refrigerator units in my restaurant and casino need to be converted because you can't get freon any more," Dini said. "It's a tremendous cost for businesses and a real burden on business people."
Of course the burden of future generations hiding from an unshielded, carcingenic sun pales when one considers the cost borne by this poor overregulated casino owner. It would seem that this man did not convert his cooling systems when evidence mounted as to the harmful effects freon has on the environment. He continued to damage the ozone layer until freon was unavailable at an affordable price. Now he uses this as justisfication for allowing poisonous air. This man has taken to heart his state granted licence to steal. May his real legacy lie within his double helix. A predisposition to tumorous disfigurement and death from the sun, visited upon the inheritors of his DNA for the next seven generations.
As you travel the smog-filled Las Vegas valley, inhaling byproducts of internal combustion, and tiny particles of dust kicked up by non-stop development, estimate just how much better our air would be if the Nevada legislature met in this county. All of those blowhards down here sucking air would certainlly have a positive effect!