An advisory panel has urged the U.S. government to restrict the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether in gasoline "substantially," because the additive has been showing up more frequently in drinking water supplies.
The 13-person panel submitted its report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is expected to propose many of its recommendations to Congress.
U.S. refiners have been using MTBE for several years to meet the oxygen requirement the federal government has mandated for reformulated gasoline (RFG), which must be sold in metropolitan regions with ozone problems. EPA Administrator Carol Browner said, "We must begin to significantly reduce the use of MTBE in gasoline as quickly as possible without sacrificing the gains we`ve made in achieving cleaner air."
Recommendations
The panel said it agreed "broadly, although not unanimously," that less MTBE should be used in the RFG program. The panel also urged the removal of the legal requirement that RFG contain 2 wt % oxygen for those metropolitan areas that significantly fail to meet federal air quality standards.
It said, "Accomplishing any such major change in the gasoline supply without disruptions to fuel supply and price will require adequate lead time, up to 4 years if the use of MTBE is eliminated."
It said more study is needed on the health effects and groundwater characteristics of other ethers, such as ethyl tertiary butyl ether, before they are allowed to be placed in widespread use.
The panel urged EPA to accelerate enforcement of the replacement of existing underground gasoline tank systems and to have states prohibit fuel deliveries to non-upgraded tanks.
The panel said EPA should work with state and local water suppliers to accelerate drinking water source protection in areas where MTBE in water has been a problem.
"EPA should work with Congress to expand resources available for the up-front funding of the treatment of drinking water supplies contaminated with MTBE and other gasoline components to ensure that affected supplies can be rapidly treated and returned to service or that an alternative water supply can be provided."
Reactions
The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association said it does not support an MTBE phaseout, but if that is required, refiners must be given adequate time to find acceptable substitutes, and the 2% oxygen requirement for gasoline must be repealed to give refiners needed flexibility.
NPRA Pres. Urvan Sternfels said, "We will urge members of Congress to consider the significant investments made by our members to comply with the existing MTBE requirement as they make their decision on this issue. Also, NPRA will insist that Congress take into account the costly impact on the refining industry of current proposals to reduce sulfur in gasoline and diesel at the same time that the panel`s (MTBE) recommendations would be implemented."
The Oxygenated Fuels Association said the panel`s recommendations were a "mixed message."
OFA Executive Director Terry Wigglesworth said, "We disagree with the panel`s view that reducing MTBE use is necessary. Reformulated gasoline with oxygenates like MTBE has been instrumental in significantly improving air quality for some 60 million Americans, and oxygenates like MTBE provide refiners with much-needed flexibility to produce cleaner-burning RFG."
She said the panel`s water protection recommendations were on the mark. "Once these recommendations are implemented, states will enjoy adequate water protection, and thus there is no need to restrict refiners` options as to what kind of tools they can use to produce cleaner-burning fuels."
