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MTBE manufacturers have asked the government to give them protection against future environmental suits. According to them, they should not be held liable “when the government is responsible" for oil companies originally turning to the additive to meet federal air quality requirements. They say that they mandated MTBE to help the environment.

The legislation has proposed to protect the MTBE manufacturers from further lawsuits. The city of South Lake Tahoe was the first in the nation to file, go to trial and settle a suit over the additive after it was found contaminating 12 wells, in the year 2001. The Oil companies say that MTBE is not a defective product but the problem arises from leaky oil tanks.

MTBE is water soluble, moves faster and further than other constituents of gasoline, has serious potential threats to groundwater if there are drinking water wells nearby, and needs to be handled differently. It was also suspected to be a carcinogen. All this led the water district to jump on the carcinogen, without having any valid evidence. The authorities are not willing to see the benefits of using MTBE for the production of RFG. By phasing out the usage of MTBE, two major issues come to the forefront. First is, can the air quality be maintained by usage of low amount of Oxygenates or by using non oxygenated fuel. Secondly, can the fuel supply be maintained at the same level after eliminating MTBE from the fuel supply. This can further lead to price hikes.

As it was the congress which had originally required the oil industry to use MTBE, it should take on the responsibility to protect oil and gas companies from the consequences as well. This is because when the Environmental Protection Agency amended the Clean Air Act in 1990, it mandated the use of MTBE as a gasoline additive.

    For more information, refer www.mtbelitigationinfo.com.