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does initiate investigations on suspected violations of air quality standards “and in most cases, we pursue them very vigorously." He noted that he’d logged 21,000 miles last year in the planning district, checking registered installations in Fauquier, Orange. Madison. Culpeper and Rappahannock counties. The state staff in Richmond is the only authority that “can countermand my recommendation,” Kearns said. He added there has not been a single case of an investigation being blocked by anyone in the seven years he’s served on the Air Pollution Control Board.
All regulations on air quality set by the Environmental Protection Agency have been adopted by Virginia, according to Kearns. The Air Pollution Control Board’s powers in stopping and preventing air pollution “are about the same the state trooper has in preventing you from going 56 miles per hour on the highway." he said. “Do we catch all the polluters? Of course we don't.”
The standards used to define air pollution were set by the U. S. Congress in 1970, according to Kearns. The list of pollutants has been expanded since then from six to nine substances, he added.
No Monitoring
The Air Pollution Control Board “doesn’t monitor anywhere,” Kearns replied to a question on monitoring the stacks in Front Royal. He said it costs SI2.000 .to conduct a stack test and that this was last done in Front Royal in either 1976 or 1977. The company is informed of the four-hour test before it is conducted. Kearns said.
How can it be determined what is in the air when an odor is detected? “Good God. I don't know.” Kearns answered, adding that wind direction, time and weather conditions may help in the determination.
Research into the effects of Front Royal pollution on human health and agriculture is being conducted by VP1. not the Air Pollution Control Board. Kearns said.
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