Auto Makers Must Keep Producing Old Potboilers

Thu., Aug. 4, 1994

By Doug Floyd dougf@spokesman.com

Fifteen years ago state and federal officials fought over whether Washington should have to test auto emissions. Guess who won.

That’s right. With $1 billion in federal highway, sewer and air-quality funds as a club, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had its way.

The battle may resume. The feds have a more demanding test in mind, although, as the state Department of Ecology is quick to note, the state now meets federal air-quality standards.

However, EPA officials (who once assured Washington motorists that emission testing could be dropped when newer, cleaner-burning automobiles replaced the old potboilers) say anticipated growth necessitates more stringent testing.

EPA officials estimate twice as many vehicles would flunk the proposed new test as at present. Motorists who do fail would have to spend up to $450 on repairs - three times the current limit.

“The public shouldn’t have to pay to clean up air that’s already clean,” says Ecology spokesman Larry Altrose. That’s logical outside a federal regulatory agency, anyway. Is something wrong with the air in there?

Don’t reign on public parade

You have to admire Mayor Jack Geraghty’s patience at Monday evening’s City Council meeting. The topic the city’s seizure of a CBS news tape - was controversial and potentially even volatile. The Council Chamber was packed with citizen speakers eager to have their say.

One by one they paraded to the lectern, making sometimes repetitive and often irrelevent speeches.

But Geraghty kept his gavel holstered. The public was heard.

One voice was heard too much, however, and it didn’t come from the general public. City Councilman Chris Anderson, having already speechified at length on the issue before the public comments began, repeatedly reclaimed the floor, between citizen witnesses, to reiterate his own viewpoint.

A year ago, before his election, Anderson was a familiar speaker at council meetings. He and others insisted on the public’s opportunity to be heard by an attentive council. Now that he’s a councilman, he should listen more, and lecture less.

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