October 5, 2000
The Honorable William J. Clinton
President of the
United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
The Honorable Trent Lott
Senate Majority
Leader
United States Senate, S-230
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Thomas A. Daschle
Senate Minority Leader
United States
Senate, S-221
Washington, D.C. 20510
Gentlemen:
We are pleased to learn the Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2000 (S. 2962) has been reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. We wish to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Minority Member Baucus, and Senators Lugar and Daschle, for their leadership in crafting landmark legislation that provides our citizens with the clean water and clean air they deserve.
In a July 19, 2000 letter to Chairman Smith, the Governors. Ethanol Coalition and Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management urged the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to advance legislation that eliminates MTBE while maintaining the full air quality benefits of the reformulated gasoline program. In addition, we overcame our historic differences and collectively urged that governors may be authorized to waive the Clean Air Act. s oxygen requirement in exchange for the adoption of a more flexible and competitive national program to promote renewable and
clean alternative fuels. We are very pleased that S. 2962 effectively addresses our collective suggestions.
This bill has forged a remarkable national consensus that may be squandered if action is delayed until next year. More importantly, federal inaction will perpetuate the harm that MTBE imposes on our water resources and will allow an increase in harmful air pollution.
We respectfully request that everything possible is done to ensure S. 2962 is adopted before Congress adjourns this year.
Sincerely,
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Governor Thomas
Vilsack
c:
Hon. Robert C. Smith
Hon. Max Baucus
Hon. Richard Lugar