Auto Smog Checks

* Your editorial (Aug. 30) on the EPA and auto smog checks and state Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) is missing some important information.

The Senate appointed a blue ribbon committee to study the issue: three environmentalists, three UC professors, an oil company executive, and the assistant district attorney from Los Angeles. Last month, this committee reported its unanimous opinion to the Senate Transportation Committee:

1. The EPA’s plan is inherently flawed because it continues to emphasize biennial testing (the clean-for-a-day approach) and ignore vehicle performance the other 729 days.

2. There is no evidence to support the EPA’s position.

3. An alternative approach should be used: a) supplement the existing system with random testing via remote sensors; b) cars caught by the remote sensors are notified to report for definitive testing; c) build some EPA-style test stations to perform this refereeing function.

This alternative approach can be implemented immediately; the EPA’s approach would require two to three years. This approach gathers data on the efficacy of the alternative smog check strategies rather than just spending money before we know what works. This approach preserves smog check employment, at least over the next few years while the data is being gathered.

CHARLES LAVE

Member of the Blue Ribbon Committee

Professor of Economics

UC Irvine