
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994                    TAG: 9406100014 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A18    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940610                                 LENGTH:

STOP COMPLAINING AND LEAD

{LEAD} After the beautiful, clear Memorial Day weekend, I'm sure you do find it hard to believe that Hampton Roads has air-pollution problems (editorial, May 25). But you have only to live through a long, hot summer here to realize that we have smog, air inversions and much room for improvement.

In an area such as ours, with no fast, cheap and convenient public transportation, we must do everything possible to reduce our use of cars, including using the ``much despised'' HOV lanes (I think they are great!), car pooling, cycling, planting trees and buying houses close to work. Then maybe auto-emissions inspections wouldn't be necessary.

{REST} I am shocked that you call the Clean Air Act a ``massive fraud'' and that you recommend doing ``as little as possible.'' It is surprising that a newspaper editor, a responsible and influential citizen, should complain of ``air cops.'' You should be the leader in supporting this necessary law, which is designed to protect public health. People who trash the environment are the very reasons we have to have these laws and regulations.

KIRKLAND T. CLARKSON

Norfolk, June 1, 1994

by CNB