County Automotive Division Earns EPA Award for Cutting 1,404 Pounds of Lead From Fleet
Clark County received an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for eliminating the use of lead wheel weights – 1,404 pounds worth – from its automotive fleet.
Wheel weights are clipped to the rims of automobiles to balance tires. The weights, when made of lead instead of steel, zinc or other more eco-friendly materials, pose a hazard to the environment and human health when they get loose and fall off vehicles. The weights often wind up in sewers and storm drains or in landfills, where they become susceptible to atmospheric corrosion and cause damage to the environment.
“Clark County is a leader in implementing programs and practices that promote a clean, green environment,” said Clark County Commission Chair Susan Brager. “We applaud our Automotive Division’s efforts to eliminate lead from use in our fleet.”
Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani added: “We appreciate being recognized by the federal government for our efforts to make our fleet as green as possible. Our Automotive Division continues to be a driving force behind many of the County’s initiatives to protect the environment.”
The majority of the County’s 2,745-vehicle fleet is powered by alternative fuels, including GDiesel®, a low-emission fuel made of conventional low-sulfur diesel and natural gas. The County’s 537 hybrid vehicles, which operated with gasoline and electric-powered motors, make up the largest hybrid fleet in the state and the sixth biggest in the nation, according to Automotive Fleet magazine. Another 451 vehicles use cleaner-burning reformulated gasoline (RFG) and 38 vehicles run on a combination of compressed natural gas (CNG) and (RFG.)
Clark County began phasing out the use of lead weights in 2009 as a participant of the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Program. The transition was complete by 2011. The program encouraged public and private organizations to form partnerships with the EPA to reduce the use of hazardous priority chemicals and heavy metals from products and processes. ###
Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 14th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to more than 2 million citizens and 40 million visitors a year. Included are the nation’s 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The county also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to almost 900,000 residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.