Countywide : Firms Must Register in Pollution Plan

In a move toward reducing air pollution, county officials notified all businesses employing more than 50 people that they must register with the county by May 4 or face fines as high as $25,000.

The notices, published Wednesday by the Air Pollution Control District, are the first stage of a new county plan to decrease commuter traffic at peak pollution hours.

“We need to get a handle on what’s out there,” said William Mount, director of planning for the district.

Employers with more than 50 workers arriving at the same work site between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. must register with the district, a first step toward the development of plans to reduce pollution from automobiles and other sources.

Employers are required to encourage car pools, vans, bicycles, flexible work hours, working at home, or other means to reduce the number of employees driving their cars to work to an average of 1.35 people per car. In 1997, that average ridership requirement will be 1.5 people per car.

The rule is designed to reduce air pollution in the county, where air quality is in violation of both state and federal clean air laws.

County government, with 11 job sites and 6,200 employees, has already begun its trip reduction plan for county employees.

The rule will be implemented in stages. Beginning in August, employers of 100 or more people will be notified that they must prepare plans to reduce employee car trips.

In August, 1991, employers of 75 people or more are required to submit plans. Beginning in 1992, employers of 50 or more people must devise plans to comply with the rule.

When the rule is in full swing, more than 140,000 workers and nearly 600 employers countywide will be affected.

The rule is designed to reduce the two principal components of ozone by about 1 percent, a small portion of the needed 40% reduction in both compounds to reach the state and federal clean-air goals.