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South Dakota Senator Tom
Daschle
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South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle and others continue to
refine proposed legislation to address MTBE water contamination and promote the
expanded use of renewable transportation fuels.
". . . some states are experiencing severe contamination problems unattended
for too long that call for more immediate solutions. Simply focusing on fixing
leaking storage tanks will not solve all their problems. These states need the
authority to regulate MTBE and the flexibility to waive the oxygen requirement,"
Daschle said at a September refiners' conference.
According to the Senator's remarks, the proposed legislation would include
the following:
- Allow states to regulate MTBE within their borders, provided they met
reasonable criteria. States that want to control MTBE because of concerns
about drinking water contamination, or for any other reason, would have that
option.
- If EPA approves a state plan to regulate MTBE, the state could obtain a
waiver from the federal reformulated gasoline oxygen requirement.
- A state that receives a federal waiver from the oxygen requirement must
guarantee there is no backsliding on air quality. In exchange for greater
flexibility, states will be held accountable for results.
- The bill establishes a renewable fuels standard that would apply to all
fuel sold in this country. We know that renewable fuels reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, help rural economies and lower our dependence on foreign oil. By
setting a renewable fuels standard nationwide, more of these benefits will be
realized.
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Promotion of the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks.
