James M. Jeffords: “As the Senator from New Hampshire, the ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, has pointed out…”

“As the Senator from New Hampshire, the ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, has pointed out, the committee acted to address existing contamination and to prevent future contamination. There are many sources of MTBE releases, including leaking underground storage tanks, motor vehicle accidents, fuel overfills, backyard mechanics and many more. With the numerous potential sources, the only way to ensure prevention of future contamination is to get MTBE out of gasoline. This legislation contains several provisions that work together to provide for quick reduction and eventual elimination of MTBE use in gasoline. Section 834 eliminates the oxygen content requirement in Sections 211(k)(2) and 211(k)(3)(A) of the Clean Air Act. These provisions require RFG to contain two percent oxygen by weight. To satisfy this mandate, refiners must blend either fourteen percent MTBE or 5 percent ethanol into RFG. Elimination of the oxygen mandate will allow for a phase-down of the use of MTBE in RFG without requiring the use of ethanol in every gallon of RFG in certain non-attainment areas. But, RFG will still be required to meet all other statutory and regulatory requirements. The elimination of the oxygen requirement also will allow refiners supplying RFG to the Northeast and many other States to use considerably less MTBE in RFG prior to the beginning of the phase out. MTBE is currently 3 percent of the national gasoline supply.”