Emission System... part broken (pics)

[92TRDV6XLE]

Hey all... back with another question.

I was monking around under the hood and popped the plastic engine cover off that covers the front bank of plug wires, etc. What I found was a broken part that had been TAPED back on with electrical tape. Which shop did this in the past is unknown to me, as I never checked it until now. I'm pissed, however. Anyway, what exactly am I looking at here that's broken? I looked it up in the Haynes manual but I still wasn't clear if it is indeed part of the emission control system, or if it's something with the vacuum system. The car runs fine, so it's obviously not a big thing, but I don't want it to be an issue later. Any thoughts?

electrical tape... sheesh.

[2wickedtoyz]

that is just some sort of filter cause there is a valve that move in and out i guess

[88 LE]

The part that broke off is part of a VSV (vacuum switching valve).