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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993                   TAG: 9305200268
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AIRPORT SMOKING BAN OPPOSED

The ban could cause some passengers to go outside to smoke and miss their flights, Kit Kiser said. With a 90,000-square-foot building, Kiser said, there ought to be some place that people can smoke.

"People can't smoke on planes. When they get off to wait on their next flight or get their luggage, there should be some place they can smoke," he said.

Kiser, a smoker himself, said Wednesday he does not oppose a smoking ban in most public areas. He just wants an area where smokers can light up.

"There ought to be room for both," said Kiser, director of utilities and operations for Roanoke.

"I think that people who don't smoke have a right to be free of the smoke."

Jacqueline Shuck, executive director of the airport, said the open nature of the building and the single ventilation provide no way to segregate smokers and nonsmokers in the public areas.

Because of the design of the lobby, Shuck said, smoking has to be prohibited in front of and behind all counters for ticketing, car rentals and other customer-waiting areas in order for the restriction to be effective.

Because of Kiser's objection, the commission postponed action Wednesday on the proposed ban until more commission members are present.

Only three members attended Wednesday's meeting. In order for such a policy to be adopted, three affirmative votes on the five-member commission are needed.

The proposed policy would permit the restaurant and gift shop to establish their own rules for smoking because they are segregated from the public hallways, Shuck said.

But the restaurant and gift shop must take whatever action necessary to prevent smoke from escaping into no-smoking areas, she said.

Although no-smoking areas have been designated in the terminal, Shuck said, passengers and other visitors have filed numerous complaints about the effect of smoke on them.

Many airports recognize that limited "smoking areas" create problems because the smoke can't be contained adequately, she said.

Shuck said the trend toward totally or "almost" smoke-free airports most likely will be accelerated because of recent findings concerning the potential harm to nonsmokers by second-hand smoke.

Copies of the proposed policy were posted outside the commission's offices and distributed to tenants in the buildings for comments by the public, employees and others. Shuck said 15 comments were received; 13 in favor of the proposed policy and two against it.

She said the local airline managers, who have tried to maintain smoking and no-smoking areas at each gate, prefer that no smoking be allowed in the waiting areas. Rental-car companies have been requesting a smoking ban for more than a year, she said.

Under the proposed ban, a person who continues to smoke in a no-smoking area after having been asked to refrain may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $25.