Press Release: Cal/EPA Releases Extensive Briefing Paper Regarding MTBE

For Immediate Release (C-13-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
April 24, 1997

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

SACRAMENTO--The California Environmental Protection Agency released today an extensive briefing paper on MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) and also released statements on what other people in California are saying about the states cleaner burning gasoline program.

"There have been many questions recently regarding the use of MTBE in California's gasoline and in order for people to gain a better scientific understanding of this chemical, I recently commissioned Cal/EPA boards and departments to jointly produce today's briefing paper," said California Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock.

"We should not lose sight of one key fact:  the cleaner burning gasoline program in California is the single most important and effective clean-air measure to protect public health in years," added Strock.

California's cleaner burning gasoline program reduces emissions of smog forming compounds from gasoline-powered engines by 15 percent.  This measure alone is the equivalent of entirely eliminating emissions from 3.5 million vehicles.  It has reduced cancer causing benzene in our state by more than 50 percent.

MTBE is a synthetic chemical oxygenate oil refiners add to gasoline to reduce air pollution and boost octane.  Since the late 1970's, it has been used throughout the United States as an octane booster and replacement of lead in gasoline.  The federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require the use of oxygenated fuels in areas of the country where the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for carbon monoxide or ozone are being exceeded.

The new briefing paper was prepared in a collaborative effort by Cal/EPA's Air Resources Board, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.  It was also reviewed by the Department of Health Services.   Research scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles, provided comments that assisted in the preparation of the final version of this paper.

The briefing paper is available on the Internet and can be downloaded by accessing www.calepa.ca.gov or by calling the Cal/EPA Office of Communications, 916-324-9670. A copy of  "What People are Saying About Cleaner-Burning Gasoline" is available by calling the above number.

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