Thomas Daschle: “we are approaching the tenth anniversary of the birth of the reformulated gasoline (RFG) program. This initiative…”

“we are approaching the tenth anniversary of the birth of the reformulated gasoline (RFG) program. This initiative, enacted in 1990 as part of the Clean Air Act Amendments, established strict fuel quality standards for the nation's most polluted cities in order to reduce air pollution. It includes a minimum oxygen content requirement, which was intended to provide an opportunity for America to reduce its dependence on foreign oil through the use of domestically produced ethanol and MTBE. Reformulated gasoline was introduced in the American marketplace in 1995. Today it accounts for approximately one-third of all gasoline sold in this country. Congress had several objectives in establishing the RFG program: (1) to substantially reduce harmful air pollutants caused by fuel-related emissions, especially ground level ozone and air toxics; (2) to reduce imports of crude oil and petroleum products, especially those from unstable regions like the Middle East; and (3) to stimulate investment in domestic ethanol and ether plants, thus creating jobs and adding value to grains and other domestic raw materials. The first objective has been not only met, it has been exceeded. In fact, EPA Administrator Carol Browner has called the RFG program ``the most successful air pollution reduction program since the phase-out of lead in gasoline.'' The other two objectives also have been met, though not to the extent that many of us had hoped.”