E.P.A. Seeks To Phase Out Harmful Gas Additive
21 March 2000
ADVISORY/E.P.A. Seeks To Phase Out Harmful Gas Additive
--March 20, 2000--TOPIC: The Clinton administration announced today that it seeks to phase out the gasoline additive MTBE because it potentially poses a risk to the environment, according to government sources as reported on the A.P. MTBE is a leading oxygenate and octane booster that reduces smog emissions, but has supposedly contaminated groundwater in California and elsewhere, according to the EPA. Under the Toxic Substance Control Act, the EPA may ban chemicals that are proven risky to the environment. The EPA also reportedly will ask Congress to amend the 1990 Clean Air Act. Currently, the Clean Air Act requires the use of oxygenates in gasoline, but the EPA reportedly wants to encourage use of ethanol, an additive from corn, in place of MTBE, sources say.
EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:
Thomas Arnold is manager, Strategic Environmental Management Services, LFR Levine Fricke. He has more than 23 years of environmental regulatory consulting experience. He is also an expert on air quality. 510/652-4500 rebecca.merrell@lfr.com
Thad Malesh is senior analyst, J.D. Power and Associates. He is an automotive industry expert. 818/889-6330 Thad.Malesh@jdpower.com, matthew.scroggs@jdpower.com
Rick Alexander is executive director, National Association Motor Vehicle Board & Comm. He has been with the automotive industry for over 15 years, and works with state and federal government agencies to regulate motor vehicle matters. 972/625-3029 rick@namvbc.org
Dianne P. Crocker is senior economist at Environmental Data Resources, Inc. She is an air quality expert and has expertise on the current state of environmental markets and the strategies being undertaken by firms to take advantage of environmental business opportunities. 800/352-0050, ext. 156 dcrocker01@snet.net
Professor Lynn M. Hildemann of Stanford University is an expert on air pollutants and source emissions. 650/723-0819 650/723-2300
ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.
ExpertSource, a collaboration of Business Wire and The Round Table Group, provides academic and industry experts to the media at no charge. Journalists are encouraged to submit queries to ExpertSource when seeking experts on specific subjects. An online registration form is available at http://www.businesswire.com/expertsource.
Business Wire's Media Resource Center provides working journalists many free media services. Please visit the BW Media Resource Center at (www.businesswire.com/media) for more information.
