[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

If we had a national standard for gasoline formulation, there wouldn't be shortages in each region, something that is essentially guaranteed every year under current rules.

Isn't that in the Cheney / Bush Energy plan?

[Dog Gone]

Not that I've heard. That would be great. You've heard that?

[Robert357]

Thirteen states use the additive to meet requirements of the federal Clean Air Act.

Isn't that in the Cheney / Bush Energy plan?

Zooming up to the 30,000 foot level, so we can get the big picture...For EPA to allow states to enforce the Clean Air Act requirements the states must submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to EPA for review and approval that shows how the state will do things to insure compliance with the Clean Air Act air quality standards.

California and some other states have winter air quality problems. To meet those problems they descided to add an oxygenating agent to the winter gasoline to help reduce air pollution concentrations from cars. The State of California choose to add MTBE for a variety of reasons.

Good citizens should be asking if the State of California is opening up its entire SIP to re-examination and revision or if it is just trying to tinker with one element. People should also clearly point out that this is a state imposed problem and has nothing to do with Washington DC. If there is an MTBE crisis, it should be put at the feet of Gov Davis and no one else. Looks alike a good issue for California Republicans this election season.