EXCLUSIVE:
TeaLiberty.com has learned that the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division will undertake emissions testing in Estes Park next week–before the September 15 Rulemaking Hearing to consider emissions regulations governing the Estes Valley.
Emissions testing before the September 15 rulemaking hearing presents local residents with a regulatory fait accompli. State staff informed the Town’s Public Information Officer that “clean screening vehicles now will reduce the inconvenience for our citizens if the program is enacted in January of 2012.” There was no explanation of why the testing would be conducted prior to the Rulemaking Hearing, rather than during the three-and-a-half month period remaining in 2011 after the public hearing.
The testing is being conducted during a lull in the Estes Park tourist economy, which occurs between the start of public school and the Scottish-Irish Festival on Labor Day weekend.
Francophiles have long referred to such maneuvers as a fait accompli. Due to a long history of military conflicts with France, many Germans merely refer to such actions as being vollendete Tatsache. In Italy, known as the home of political author Machiavelli, the phrase is fatto compiuto. Here at TeaLiberty, some editors argued for the phrase regulatory fiat.
Regardless of language, the State of Colorado is implementing auto emissions testing in Estes before the rulemaking hearing called to formally adopt the rules. That, my friends, is putting the cart before the horse.
Estes Park was included in the initial expansion of auto emissions testing to Larimer and Weld Counties, then deferred to a later date due to objections about the costs versus benefits of expanding emissions testing to the Estes Valley.
The Air Quality Control Commission will hold the hearing at 12:30 pm, September 15 at Estes Park’s Municipal Town Hall Board Room, 170 MacGregor Avenue. The requested deadline for submitting public written comments is at least 14 days prior to the hearing (September 1)–after the first round of emissions testing in Estes Park. The public will also have a chance to comment at the hearing.
TeaLiberty.com reproduces below the information obtained by Town of Estes Park staff from the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division:
From: Kate Rusch
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 2:27 PM
To: Jacqueline Halburnt
Subject: Remote Sensing in Estes Park 8/29
The State’s Air Pollution Control Division has notified us that they have received a CDOT permit to put remote sensing “Rapid Screen” vans in and around Estes Park from Monday 8/29 through Thursday 9/1. The purpose of beginning data collection is to be prepared in case the Air Quality Control Commission enacts the emissions testing requirements for Estes Park. If the program is enacted in January of 2012, the emissions data collected by the remote sensing vans will be processed by the state and transferred from the state to the county approximately 60 days in advance of renewal notice mailings. The county processes the data and then generates renewal notice postcards to mail 35 days in advance of the renewal due date.
Data technicians will park the remote sensing vans along state highways in and around Estes Park. The white box vans with blue “Rapid Screen” logos will be parked in a coned roadside area. There is a data technician in the vehicle who captures license plates and ties them to emissions records. This technician is not able to tell passersby if their vehicle passed the emissions test as they do not have immediate access to the results.
Weather permitting, here are the locations of the vans for 8/29-9/1:
8/29 Monday: WB US-34 JUST PAST GRAND ESTATES DR.
8/30 Tuesday: EB US-36 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 2 AND 3
8/31 Wednesday: EB US-34 BETWEEN VISTA LN. AND HILLSIDE LN.
9/1 Thursday: SB SH-7 JUST PAST LEXINGTON LN.
Registration renewal postcards will display one of three messages regarding emissions:
1. Emissions test required (Did not “clean screen” or was not captured by a Rapid Screen van; must visit a testing site in the valley)
2. Emissions test not required (vehicles 4 years and newer)
3. Passed roadside emissions test (clean screen)
It was explained to me that clean screening vehicles now will reduce the inconvenience for our citizens if the program is enacted in January of 2012. The state provided the attached document explain how remote sensing works; a photo of the van operation is included on page 5.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Kate Rusch
Public Information Officer
Town of Estes Park
P.O. Box 1200
Estes Park, CO 80517
Thank you for spending some time to describe the terminlogy towards the starters!
[…] appears that Air Pollution Control Division staff responded to the Mayor’s letter by implementing remote emissions testing in Estes Park before the rulemaking hearing. Let’s hope that Governor Hickenlooper is as […]
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