
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 10, 1990                   TAG: 9003122957
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BREATH OF NEW LIFE FOR CLEAN AIR ACT

POLITICS, say its practitioners, is the art of the possible; and it may be that the clean-air compromise between White House and Senate leaders represents what is possible and passable at this time. It's not the best the country could hope for, but still it's a big improvement over the status quo.

The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, has not been updated for more than 10 years. Ronald Reagan showed no interest in it. As Senate majority leader, Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., blocked such legislation. The present Senate bill, a melding of executive and legislative efforts, breaks an extended impasse and brings clean-air efforts a long step forward.

Several steps, in fact. Compare the existing law with the compromise:

Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. Now limited, respectively, to 1 gram and 41 grams per vehicle mile, these tailpipe emissions would have to drop to 0.4 and 0.25 grams per mile by 1995. (Higher limits would be allowed for cars with 50,000 or more miles.)

Alternative fuels. Unmentioned in current law, but mandated (in the form of reformulated gasolines) for all new autos in the nine smoggiest U.S. cities by 1994.

Toxic industrial emissions. Only eight of these are controlled now under federal law; by 1997, industry would have to install the "best available technology" to control sources of 187 such substances.

Acid rain. Unmentioned in current law; sources to be trimmed within the next 10 to 15 years via reductions in utilities' sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen-oxide emissions. Limits would be eased, however, for clean Western and dirty Midwestern utilities.

The measure strikes a balance between concerns of environmentalists and those of industrialists and others who contend that greater cleanup efforts would be too costly. The balance may weigh too heavily on the side of automakers, miners and burners of high-sulfur coal.

Still, they've been compelled to give ground in the face of demand for more breathable, less damaging, less chemical-laden air. That's no small achievement in view of the political clout of business - both in contributions to campaigns and in the jobs that industry provides for politicians' constituents.

The achievement, however, is not guaranteed. The measure survived its first floor test on Thursday, when the Senate by a 2-1 margin rejected a strengthening amendment that could have undone the fragile compromise. But other proposed amendments were to come: The coalition backing this bill could fly apart, and clean-air legislation is at a standstill in a House committee.

As sent to the floor, the Senate bill had at least one big flaw: No longer would Uncle Sam be required to intervene if states and cities fell short of pollution goals. Whatever version ultimately comes from a House-Senate conference, this stick behind the door should be included: It gives citizens the avenue to sue for non-attainment of standards. Otherwise, the compromise could be the best hope for bringing a fresh breeze (1) to a stagnant legislative process and (2) to millions of citizens who dislike other people's garbage in their air.

by CNB