Thomas Daschle: “a report released last week by the General Accounting Office [GAO] concludes that the reformulated gasoline [RFG]…”

“a report released last week by the General Accounting Office [GAO] concludes that the reformulated gasoline [RFG] program is a cost-effective means of reducing ozone pollution and easing our Nation's vulnerability to oil supply disruptions and related price shocks. Congress ought to pay close attention to the conclusions of this study as it seeks to wean the nation off imported petroleum and further improve air quality throughout the Nation. This independent analysis confirms that the reformulated gasoline program is good for the economy and good for the environment. RFG, which reduces emissions of volatile organic compounds and toxic air pollutants by 15 percent, displaces significant amounts of petroleum, much of which is imported. Given the gasoline price shocks that this country recently experienced and the petroleum displacement goals established by Congress in the 1992 Energy Policy Act, it is time to consider nationwide use of RFG. According to the GAO report, the potential for RFG with oxygenates to displace petroleum consumption is significant. GAO expects that by the year 2000 about 305,000 barrels per day of petroleum will be displaced by oxygenates. This amounts to about 37 percent of the 10 percent petroleum displacement goal established by Congress in the 1992 Energy Policy Act.”