MTBE provision would kill the energy bill in the Senate

MTBE provision would kill the energy bill in the Senate: staffer

Washington (Platts)--10Jun2005


A comprehensive US energy bill could be doomed on the Senate floor if it
includes a safe harbor for manufacturers of the gasoline additive MTBE,
because such a waiver would cost communities more than $50-bil, violating
budget rules on unfunded mandates, a Senate staffer said Friday. 

Speaking to reporters at a meeting hosted by King Publishing, Alex Flint,
majority staff director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
said "I don't see a solution the MTBE problem." The House included a safe
harbor from product liability lawsuits for MTBE makers and Flint said the
Senate will not follow suit, leaving the issue to be resolved in a
House-Senate conference committee. Flint said that ultimately it will be up to
the White House to mediate the issue. "I think the White House will be a...key
player when the time comes to resolve MTBE." He estimated it would cost
$50-bil to $75-bil to clean up MTBE contamination across the country.

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