1. MTBE (methyl-tertiary butyl ether) Sarah Lilley ES 333

2. History of MTBE First introduced in 1979 Used as an oxygenate to curb lead emissions Wide-spread use following CAA of 1990 Reduced ground-ozone and cancer risk due to automobile emissions Easily produced Cheaper than alternatives, such as ethanol

3. The Issue Found to contaminate groundwater as early as 1980 Doesn’t adhere to soil particles Easily soluble in water, difficult to remove Main leak source: underground storage tanks Contaminated water tastes like turpentine States which once had high levels of air pollution now had high levels of water contamination Cleanup is estimated at $29 billion

4. Advocates Oil companies and their lobbyists Oil-state politicians Republicans Environmental groups and their lobbyists Corn-state politicians Democrats Opponents Who’s Responsible for Cleanup? Government: for requiring the use of oxygenates in gasoline? Oil Companies: for using MTBE since it was cheap and easy to produce, rather than investigating alternatives?

5. Energy Policy Act of 2005 Sponsored by Joe Barton, R-TX, with co- sponsors Richard Pombo, R-CA, and William Thomas, R-CA Congress is aware that it authorized use of MTBE, knowing it to be a water contaminant Congress recognizes the problem of MTBE contamination and the need for change Offers assistance to oil companies to make switch from MTBE to other additives