Air Pollution and Vehicle Emissions

Members of the Sarasota County legislative delegation should sponsor legislation that will expand the annual inspection of motor vehicles. 
 
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles administers the current emission inspection program. To address the impact that the increased number of motor vehicles is having on our air quality, the Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program should expand the current “Program Area”.

The Program Area includes only those areas in the state designated as a “Non-attainment area" by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as exceeding national primary or secondary ambient air quality standards for the pollutants carbon monoxide or ozone. The Program Area for motor vehicle inspections needs to include, at a minimum, the fastest-growing counties in Florida and those near non-attainment of ambient air quality standards. 
 
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there are over 19 million vehicles registered in Florida today. ManaSota-88 recommends all counties in Florida require proof of emission inspections as part of the annual motor vehicle license renewal requirements.
 
In addition to ensuring defective vehicles are removed from the road, requiring a check of exhaust emissions provides a means to limit harmful pollutants emitted from vehicles and to ensure vehicles are operating in compliance with reasonable noise limits.
 
The Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice area has a very high per capita rate of carbon emissions from transportation and residential uses. 
 
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection identifies vehicle emissions as the primary contributing factor for high ozone levels in Sarasota County. If you are looking for a meaningful discussion about the air quality impacts associated with Manatee and Sarasota Counties growth management plan, don’t bother, it’s not a part of the plan.
 
Nitrogen oxide emissions associated with ozone formation in Manatee County are evenly distributed between industrial and vehicular emissions. Manatee County faces the dilemma of increased air pollution from motor vehicles and additional emissions from the Florida Power and Light power plant. The economy of our region, and certainly that of Southwest Florida, is based on clean air. 
 
Current permitting processes do not address the tremendous economic costs that higher air pollution creates. Obviously, the higher the pollution levels are, the more sickness, greater loss of earnings, and higher medical costs are incurred. The economy of our region, and certainly that of Southwest Florida, is based on clean air.  Dirty air is nobody’s bargain.
 
At every level of air pollution someone is adversely affected. Air pollution takes a heavy toll, not only on human health but in economics as well. The state has already suffered declines in air quality over the last 10 years, a further decline can be expected. A direct impact associated with increased vehicle emissions and growth is the increase in pollution and a decrease in the region’s air quality.
 
Expanding energy needs and an increase in vehicle emissions will certainly create serious, adverse effects on the health of our populace. Expanding the existing motor vehicle inspections program will likely result in substantially more significant reductions in vehicle emissions and better air quality.

Glenn Compton is the Chairman of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.