[Carry_Okie]

I know the entire dirty story of MTBE, ARCO, The Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990 and GHWB ("The Environmental President"), the exemption from liability in the Amendments demanded by the oil companies... , AND how EPA knew it was going to be a problem long before its first uses in Denver and Alaska in the 80s. That is why I put the supposed need in quotes.

Still, the addition of oxygenate (whether MTBE, methanol, ethanol, or some other compound) has been shown to reduce ozone and photochemical smog, even though MTBE has other problems (formaldahyde, vapor emissions, carburetor fires, and the like). The point is, a free market would allow people to buy some form of RFG if they want it and could ALSO make roll the total benefits and costs of different constituents into price of that decision. It can also be done objectively. If the residents of that area want cleaner air, they should be allowed to pay for it. A single gasoline spec for the nation prevents anyone from competitively benefitting by inventing improvements at lower cost. Why not?

[quimby]

Agree with your comments, but would add that if a private corporation tried to add MTBE to gasoline, they would not be allowed due to the carcinogenic nature of that crap.

Its really a shame we spent billions to rid gasoline of lead, only to have MTBE put in its place.

[Leisler]

If I understand, there are dozens, or more, different formulations all over the country. This is done in obeyance to our true rulers the administrative bosses of the various fedgov agencies like the EPA.