From coast to coast, states are finding MTBE in their groundwater and drinking water systems, including California, New York, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, Maine, New Jersey, Nebraska and Colorado.

A recap of state actions regarding MTBE:

City of Chicago
In an effort to protect the city's water resources while maintaining the successful ethanol-reformulated gasoline program, the Chicago City Council has adopted a resolution that calls upon the EPA, Congress and Illinois EPA to take the appropriate action to prevent the use of MTBE in Chicago. The resolution also provides for possible legislative action by the city "in the event the foregoing governmental bodies do not take appropriate action to prevent the manufacture, blending, delivery, sale, distribution or use of MTBE for sale as a gasoline additive in the City of Chicago."

Colorado
The Colorado State Senate has before it a bill that would ban the sale or use of MTBE in the state's gasoline, effective September 1 of this year. SB 190, introduced by Senator Feeley, was approved unanimously by the Senate Transportation Committee and awaits full Senate consideration.

 

Iowa
In light of the MTBE water and soil contamination identified by the state Department of Natural Resources, Representative Mark Kuhn has introduced HF 2294 which would lower the current allowed MTBE usage of two percent by volume to a complete ban on the sale or storage of MTBE in Iowa after December 31, 2000.

Missouri
Legislation has been introduced in the Missouri Legislature that would require MTBE labeling. HR 1601, introduced by Representative Leake, would require retailers to label the pump the with type and amount of oxygenate present in the gasoline. South Dakota
Governor William Janklow has signed into law legislation banning the sale of gasoline containing more than two percent by volume of MTBE.

Wisconsin
Concerned that MTBE could return to Wisconsin in the absence of changes to Phase 2 of the reformulated gasoline program and a ban on the additive, Representative Tim Hoven has introduced LRB-4462 which would prohibit the sale of gasoline containing MTBE in the state.

 

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