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6 Wednesday,January 19, 2000 State Seeks Strategies to Curb Smog By Courtney Obringer Staff Writer Experts are considering stricter emis sions regulations for factories and auto mobiles as possible solutions to North Carolina’s high smog rating. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Nationwide recently completed a study that ranked North Carolina among the nation’s highest for exceed ing nitrogen oxide levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency. But officials say the figures, while daunting, might be slightly misleading. The state ranked third in the number of monitoring sites that detected unhealthy nitrogen oxide conditions, but fourth in the number of unhealthy days in 1999. The group considers a day unhealthy if any of its monitors detect high smog levels. But more nitrogen oxide might have been detected due to the state’s exten sive monitoring system, perhaps skew ing the state’s third-place ranking. However, officials are still concerned. “Power plant and automobile emissions together cause 95 percent of the pollu tion problem,” said Tom Mather, spokesman for the N.C. Division of Air SIOO minimum order TEXTBOOKS ONLINE. SAVE UP TO 40%. FREE SHIPPING! FOR $lO OFF** ENTER CODE #650169 AT PURCHASE CHECKOUT nigworas.com pg * Pra shipping tor a limited Oms on order* over $39. ** $lO offer expiree February IS, 2000. Quality. While the state has already passed automobile regulations, the State Environmental Management Commission is reviewing options to reduce power plant emissions. Mather said two options existed that could reduce emissions by 66 percent. One would require nitrogen oxide emis sions to be reduced to a specified level. The other option would place harsh er restrictions on the top five smog-pro ducing plants in the state. “We have coal-based power plants which are allowed to emit four to 10 times the amount of nitrogen oxide, which con tributes to smog,” said Jennifer Counts, spokeswoman at the regional Public Interest Research Group. “If these (regulations) go through, we will see a 60 percent reduction.” Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, said automobile emission regulations in a bill he co-sponsored presented a valid solu tion for tackling the smog problem. The bill regulates automobile emis sions through requiring the use of low sulfur gasoline and increasing testing for harmful emissions, Hackney said. But Rep. Cary Allred, R-Alamance, said he supported the law that would North Carolina Faces Smog Dilemma A recent study ranked North Carolina as the state with the fourth highest incidence of days with dangerous smog levels in 1999. Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming had no incidents of unhealthy smog in 1999. 0Q 1999 Smog Report Statistics 1~~ n § 0 Texas Tennessee Georgia North Carolina Hawaii Number of days with unhealthy levels SOURCE: U.S. PUBLIC INTF.BtiSI RESEARCH GROUP require the use of low sulfur gasoline, but strongly opposed the attempt to mandate automobile emissions testing. “The cost of doing the testing is pro- State DTH/HEATHER TODD hibiting compared to the results.” The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu. e 2000 BIQWORDS, Inc. N.C. Pro-Life Group Protests Ad Laws The organization claims campaign ad laws should not apply to it because it doesn't endorse candidates. By Anne Fawcett Staff Writer N.C. Right to Life filed two lawsuits in recent months claiming that state and federal authorities have infringed upon their First Amendment rights. The organization claims that it has come under too much regulation by the government because its methods are interpreted not as promoting issues, but as supporting candidates. On Nov. 30 N.C. Right to Life filed a suit against the N.C. Board of Elections protesting its classification as a political action committee. In a suit filed Jan. 3, the group also asked the judge to rule against Federal Election Commission rules barring it from making contribu tions to federal candidates. The FF,C pro- “What we’re entitled to keep confidential as our First Amendment right is the identity of our contributors. ” Pall Stam Attorney for N.C. Right to Life hibits most corporations from making campaign contributions. Federal court decisions have declared an exemption for N.C. Right to Life, but the FEC has not recognized that exemption. N.C. Right to Life is a nonprofit ide ological corporation, said Paul Stam, the organization’s attorney. Members take political action through issue advocacy, which includes airing television adver tisements stating incumbent politicians’ votes on abortion issues. The subject of contention is the gov ernment’s interpretation of ads naming specific politicians. State regulations classify political action committees as organizations spending more than $3,000 each year supporting or oppos ing candidates. jßSgfe, YOU GOT "HOPS?” rj®| Come out for the i|l 3IU> ANNUAL CAA fjN SLAM-DUNK CONTEST. Mlk Semi-finals will be Thursday @ Bpm M ‘ n Woollen Gym. Finals will be at half time of the Florida State Men’s 'mm pP Basketball Game. I Sign up outside the CAA office or . 'V/ in Woollen Gym. , Au h r % eat F f? ' V big.cheap.late.great Lyg cosmic menu sampling: WP various menu items $2 jjTHam old school veggie borrito 2 j|#J Wt veggie burrito deluxe 4 4r .. .and more plus... all mexican bee’s $2 . ONE COSMIC DOLLAR , | $1 @FF ANY BURRITO OR QUESADILLA ANY TIME AFTER SPM • MINIMUM $5 PURCHASE OFFER VAUO THROUGH 1/26/00 I CHAPEL Hill LOCATION ONLY. ONE COUPON PER PERSON ONE COSMIC DOLLAR r v 0 r 960395 A v \ open super late night until 4am - _ 4 always fresh, juicy, big and healthy uOSIMC Q where are we? “ (liUltinS 5 chafidM: right across the street ** Wliilllllll from the varsity theatre at 128 r franklin street [at the end of the hall]. 2Q durham: on 9th street and perry * hi, . street [across from brueggers]. 286-1875. *** ° Übr Sally (Ear Uppl But Stam said N.C. Right to Life is an advocate for pro-life issues, not candi dates. “An ad might be that John Edwards did a bad thing on voting to keep abor tion legal into the ninth month,” Stam said. “That’s not the same as saying ‘vote for whoever is going to run against him next time.’” One consequence of the PAG classi fication is that N.C. Right to Life would not be able to accept donations in amounts exceeding $4,000, Stam said. But a major reason N.C. Right to Life sued to avoid classification as a PAC was a rule mandating disclosure of donors. Stam said the organization feared members might retaliate if they were named. The News & Observer reported Wednesday that the purpose of N.C. Right to Life’s lawsuit was to be able to run anonymous advertisements. But Stam said N.C. Right to Life has never run or intended to run anonymous ads. “What we’re enti tled to keep confi dential as our First Amendment right is the identity of our contributors." Deborah Ross, executive director of the N.C. American Civil Liberties Union, concurred, saying N.C Right to Life’s focused on issues, not candidates. “If they’re saying that so and-so voted this way on a bill of inter est, that’s a factual statement, and they don’t have to identify who they are and who their members are,” Ross said. But UNC political science Professor Thad Beyle said such a stance was split ting hairs. “All these groups are trying to have their way,” he said. “They’re say ing, ‘we’re not involved in political cam paigns, but before you vote we want you to think about what the candidate has done.’ It’s a fine line.” The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Jan. 19, 2000, edition 1
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