Panel backs state on MTBE ban

Mercury News ^ | 8/8/02 | Dion Nissenbaum

[NormsRevenge]

An international trade tribunal has turned back a Canadian company's attempt to dilute California's environmental laws but given the firm a narrow chance to pursue its $1 billion claim.

In a closely watched case, the North American Free Trade Agreement panel this week rejected claims by Methanex that California had broken international law by banning MTBE, a gasoline additive that was meant to help ease air pollution but ended up contaminating drinking water across the state.

[NormsRevenge]

The panel said it would still be willing to consider allegations that Davis and other California leaders sought to punish a foreign company by banning MTBE.

I still Say .. :-)
DUMP DAVI$ & the Den of Socialists

GO SIMON

[supercat]

Is there any sound environmental reason that MTBE shouldn't be replaced with a substance which was developed many decades ago as a cleaning solvent, commonly known as "gasoline"?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

None that I know about.

There are some very interesting little known angles to this, not all of which I remember!

But some know much more about this than I!

[Anchoragite]

Gee, after MTBE was proven to turn toxic in arctic environments (turns into formaldehyde!), we replaced it with a really high-tech oxygenator called "alcohol."

[Syncro]

Gasoline...apparantly too easy.

Canada needs the money selling MTBE to the US or NAFTA will get us.

The oil companies are forced to use it and so they get sued...not the Gov or Canada politicans for forcing us to keep using it.

And of couse the enviromentalists love it. Gasoline spilled from jet skis sits on top of the water and evaporates; with MTBE in it it coeleces with the water and contaminates it. Therefore they can ban watersports as shown Here

I remember reading some time ago that MTBE is a waste product (hazardous material of course) that the oil companies had to dispose of in a costly manner.

What better use to put it to then to add it to the gas and make millions of $'s from it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Methanex argued that Midwest ethanol producer Archer Daniels Midland had contaminated the process by holding a secret meeting with Davis right before he was elected and donating $200,000 to his 1998 gubernatorial campaign.

This could be an issue in the Nov elections.

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[supercat]

Gee, after MTBE was proven to turn toxic in arctic environments (turns into formaldehyde!), we replaced it with a really high-tech oxygenator called "alcohol."

In an engine with a properly-functioning catalytic convertor, what benefit is there to using any oxygenator? Such chemicals reduce fuel economy, increasing the emissions of CO2 per mile. They may make the air going into the catalytic convertor cleaner, but what's the point of doing that?

Oxygenated gas was developed in the 1970's as an alternative to catalytic convertors. If catalytic convetors were not widely used, oxygenated gas would indeed reduce polution. Using oxygenated gas on a car which already has a catalytic convertor, however, is redundant and wasteful.

[NormsRevenge]

Yes, It is true that MTBE is a byproduct of refining and this usage as a Air Cleaner is just another indication of how quick politicians pocket money and worry about collateral damage later.

If the weasel politicians and bureaucrats are lucky, they have moved on by the time MTBE is addressed, it will be too late for too many communities. It already is for some.

Recent judments are a drop in the bucket of what will be needed to clean it up. And you know who gets stuck with the bill in the end.

I'll see what we can dig up on this.

[NormsRevenge]

Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE)

Health and Environmental Assessment of MTBE Report to the Governor and Legislature of the State of California as Sponsored by SB 521 Delivered to the Governor's office on November 12, 1998

Charnock MTBE Cleanup Santa Monica, CA

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

In an engine with a properly-functioning catalytic convertor, what benefit is there to using any oxygenator?

During warm-up. Or so goes the theory. Of course, you get 10-15% less energy efficiency after the engine's warm...

[chudogg]

Yet another example of enviromental regulations run amuck. Not surpising at all that this happens in california.

I was outraged a few years ago when I first saw this. NAFTA was supposed to be an increase in pure capatalism. Now we are going to have a three member panal make decisions for us?

This sets a a very bad and dangerous precedent. And it wont be long before scores of companies began doing the same thing.

[chudogg]

And a three member unelected panal at that!

[DUMBGRUNT]

Anyone know of a link to the story that the Chicago area had to go on MTBE because of an EPA equipment failure near
Waulkegan , IL?

[ivegotabrain]

They already are. It comes under Chapter 10 (I think) of NAFTA. Companies can sue for loss of potential profits. The lawyers who stuck that in there then turned around and started showing companies how to use it to force folks to use their product or face lawsuits.