THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603230013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
How hard can it be to appoint a committee, with a whole state of citizens to choose from?
Because Gov. George F. Allen failed to appoint an environmental committee to help draft plans to ensure that Hampton Roads smog does not increase over the next 10 years, this region faces the threat of mandatory auto inspections and new emission limits on local business and industry.
The state was busy on anti-pollution plans for Northern Virginia and Richmond but did not get around to Hampton Roads, leaving the region inlimbo. Local officials' reaction was bitter.
``I thought the state was supposed to help us, not act as a barrier,'' grumbled Joe Frank, a Newport News city councilman.
Preparation of the 10-year anti-smog plan was further hindered by the state's downsizing and buyout programs, which reduced the number of smog planners by ``two or three,'' said James E. Sydnor, a state administrator for air-pollution control.
As staff writer Scott Harper reported Thursday, this region was expected to escape new federal restrictions that apply only to cities with records of violating air-pollution standards. After two consecutive summers of mild smog, Hampton Roads' clean air qualified the region for exemption from environmental restrictions reserved for polluted cities. That exemption would have been obtained if the governor had appointed the committee and the 10-year plan had been submitted.
Now, thanks to foot-dragging in Richmond, if four days of heavy smog occur this summer, mandatory auto-emission inspections and tougher emission limits on business and industry could be imposed, limiting our ability to recruit more business and industry, and causing motorists to pay for the inspections.
Although the region has had two consecutive years with no excessive smog days, there were three in 1993, five in 1988 and seven in 1983. Because of the state's indifference or ineptitude, Hampton Roads is at the mercy of the sun and wind, for intense sunlight on still days raises smog levels.
Local officials are especially annoyed because more than a year ago they submitted a list of people that the governor could appoint to the air-pollution committee. That list was ignored. A state official said the governor had wanted to reward people who'd helped combat pollution. Fine, reward them, but in a timely manner.
The governor usually acts as though environmental regulations are an example of an overly intrusive federal government. Early in his administration, he had state environmental laws checked to ensure that none were more restrictive than federal regulations required. He has repeatedly asserted that environmental protection should not interfere with job creation, his top priority.
Ironically, if more restrictive air-pollution requirements are imposed on Hampton Roads, one of the casualties could be the governor's favorite: new jobs.
In a related matter, a survey of the 670 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality employees, conducted by the national Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, or PEER, showed a demoralized department, as did an earlier state survey.
Of the 145 employees who returned PEER questionnaires, one in three said they were directed to ignore an environmental rule or regulation in the past two years, and 70 percent said business and industry wield too much influence over state environmental policy.
``PEER works all across the country, from Alaska to Florida,'' said Jeff DeBonis, PEER's executive director, ``but we have never seen such a powerful self-indictment of an environmental agency by its own employees.''
Even assuming that only the most disgruntled employees responded to the survey, the findings are disturbing. But, given the Allen administration's record, not surprising. by CNB