By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Butler County Commissioner Courtney Combs, a longtime opponent of Ohio's auto emissions control program, has been trying in vain to obtain statistics showing how much the program has improved air quality.

He recently sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regional office in Chicagoasking for statistics on the E-Check program.

But he received a letter back from Cheryl L. Newton, acting director of the agency's air and radiation division, saying Ohio EPA, not U.S. EPA, has those statistics.

She also defended the E-Check program, saying, "The EPA views vehicle inspection and maintenance programs as important programs in protecting air quality."

Combs said this is the kind of run-around he's been getting from the EPA for years when he asks for proof that E-Check has significantly improved air quality.

"It's more of the same," he said. "Obviously, the federal EPA doesn't have information about the quality of our air."

He sent a request Thursdayfor the same information to the Ohio EPA.

"They say it's reduced air pollution," Combs said. "Well, show me. That's all I ask."

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com