IMMEDIATE RELEASE				
Feburary 25, 2000

MTBE AND ETHANOL

Senator Dick Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) introduced a pair of 
bills today, one speeding up California's phase-out of 
methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and the other calling 
for a comprehensive study of the impact of adding ethanol 
to reformulated gasoline.
	Senator Mountjoy noted that the National Research 
Council's 1999 study entitled "Ozone-Forming Potential of 
Reformulated Gasoline" concludes "that the use of commonly 
available oxygenates in RFG has little impact on improving 
ozone air quality."
	"Why should we put ethanol or MTBE, both 
oxygenates, in gasoline if they do not improve air quality?   
Certainly comprehensive scientific research assessing their 
impact on human health and our environment should be 
completed prior to their use," Senator Mountjoy said.
Senate Bill 1971 proposes to phase-out MTBE from 
California gasoline by December 31, 2000, much faster than 
the current MTBE phase-out timetable.  For three years 
Senator Mountjoy has advocated elimination of MTBE.
 	The second bill, SB 1972 directs the University of 
California to conduct a comprehensive study of ethanol, 
which some suggest should be used to replace MTBE.
	"We cannot continue to pour gallon after gallon of 
MTBE into our gas tanks.  We are playing Russian Roulette 
with our water and our health, risking California's  water 
and our health each day MTBE remains in gas sold in 
California," Senator Mountjoy stated.
	 MTBE is very soluble in water and has been found 
in thousands of water sources across California.  
"I believe MTBE contamination is far greater than we 
yet realize and I fear the health effects are also far more 
extensive than we know," Senator Mountjoy said.
MTBE has been shown to cause several types of cancer 
in multiple species of laboratory animals.  The $500,000 
University of California study authorized by Senator 
Mountjoy's 1997 legislation concluded "MTBE is an animal 
carcinogen with the potential to cause cancer in humans."
	"Elected officials must protect California's water 
and Californian's health from further MTBE exposure. As it 
is, we will be dealing with MTBE's toxic legacy for 
decades," Senator Mountjoy added.  
	The UC MTBE study warned against repeating our MTBE 
mistake, stating, "a lesson to be learned from the MTBE 
story is that addition of any chemical compound to the 
environment in quantities that constitute a significant 
fraction of the total content of gasoline may have 
unexpected environmental consequences.  Therefore, we 
recommend a full environmental assessment of any 
alternative to MTBE in CaRFG2, including the components of 
CaRFG2 itself, before any changes are made in California 
State law."  
Senate Bill 1972 will provide funding for a 
comprehensive multimedia study of ethanol.
	"MTBE taught us that we must study a chemical 
before we pour it into our gasoline.  Science must precede 
marketing," Senator Mountjoy concluded.