Thursday, July 08, 1999
Campbell joins tailpipe test foes
Fiscal court says benefits unproven
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
ALEXANDRIA — Campbell County Fiscal Court on Wednesday became the third Northern Kentucky government to ask Congress for a moratorium on auto emissions testing, but one county commissioner wants to settle the matter in court.
Commissioner Roland Vories asked the county to seek an injunction to prohibit the tests from starting Sept. 1 at a facility in Wilder. Officials weren't sure whether they could legally do so, and the matter was referred to County Attorney Justin Verst.
“Everybody seems to bow down and say tailpipe (testing) is coming,” Mr. Vories said. “I'm willing to put up a fight and do what this (fiscal) court can do.”
Commissioner William Verst said the county could have federal money withheld if it doesn't comply with Clean Air Act provisions, but he said there's no proof that Northern Kentucky even needs the tests.
“The science behind it is questionable,” Mr. Verst said. “The testing doesn't solve a problem; the problem doesn't exist.”
Mr. Vories said the risk is still worth taking.
“The way it's going, (federal authorities) don't listen to you,” Mr. Vories said. “If (the injunction) doesn't do anything, it'll get their attention.”
The fiscal courts in Kenton and Boone counties passed similar resolutions last month. All three call for the federal government to hold off on testing until a report from the Nation al Academy of Science is completed. The study seeks to determine the tests' effectiveness.
Campbell County Commissioner Dave Otto has said Kentucky should consider limiting the tests to older cars because newer vehicles have catalytic converters and other pollution control devices.
In other action, commissioners tabled a request to allow a Fairfield, Ohio, developer to buy a 2.1-acre site at the county's Fire Training Center near Martha Layne Collins Boulevard in Highland Heights.
Mike Castle of the Campbell County Firefighters Educational Association said Homes By Calkins wants to buy the hillside to extend its Forest Ridge housing development. Mr. Castle said the selling price is between $25,000 and $35,000.
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