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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > March > 10 > Entry
County opposes E-Check’s return
Butler County commissioners fumed Monday, March 9, about the possibility that the Ohio E-check could return to Butler County and the rest of Greater Cincinnati.
Commissioners passed a resolution 2-0 — Commissioner Gregory Jolivette was absent — in opposition to the unpopular vehicle emissions test.
A cloud of concern has arisen that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could mandate emissions testing as it revises its classification of areas that meet or exceed ozone standard because of a federal lawsuit.
“I definitely want to go on record as being opposed to another e-check situation in Butler County,” said Commissioner Charles Furmon. “It did not work and it did not do what it was supposed to and there’s got to be another means.”
Commission President Donald Dixon agreed.
“It didn’t work the last time, there’s no sense in wasting more money and doing it a second time,” Dixon said.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials also oppose the U.S. EPA’s plan to change Greater Cincinnati’s ozone classification.
The state’s position is that the federal government is using air quality data from 1997 in its ruling, according to Ohio EPA Spokeswoman Heidi Griesmer. She said more recent data would put the region within reach of basic nonattainment — meaning no emissions testing.
Add to this the prospect of getting the dozens of E-Check stations dormant since 2006 up and running again while government budgets are running on empty, and opposition is likely to mount further, officials predict.
“We have a lot of concerns with what they’re doing,” Griesmer said.
But even if the U.S. EPA holds off on reclassifying the area’s ozone levels as the state is requesting, it may not last for long. The federal government is also changing to a more stringent standard for ozone that would put this area even further from attainment.
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By Paul
March 12, 2009 6:07 PM | Link to this
A … Giant … waist of money in anyone’s book!!!