Feinstein Asks EPA to Waive Rule on Fuel [MTBE]

LA Times ^ | 1.29.04 | LA Times

[smith288]

Isnt this contradictory of her fellow liberal eco-maniacs?

[oceanview]

a permanent removal of the requirement for ANY oxygenate? Most states are switching to ethanol from MTBE (which is a good idea, this MTBE has been a total disaster), so what is this about? Or is just just temporary because there isn't enough ethanol?

[oceanview]

maybe some of the eco-maniacs have seen what this MTBE is doing and realize that just regular old gasoline is much better for the environment.

[snooker]

We are all gonna die. For once it's a liberal doing the killing. Neato.

[New Perspective]

maybe some of the eco-maniacs have seen what this MTBE is doing and realize that just regular old gasoline is much better for the environment.

I agree with you. In Maine, MTBE was found in many wells. Thanks libs for slowly killing us.

[BlackRazor]

this MTBE has been a total disaster

During the last Democratic debate, John Kerry said that the producers of MTBE should be held responsible and punished for the negative effects of the chemical on the environment. I'm not real familiar with the history of this additive. Any idea why Kerry thinks the MTBE manufacturers should be held responsible when it is the EPA who is mandating its addition to gasoline?

[Paleo Conservative]

Most states are switching to ethanol from MTBE

But modern cars with computer controlled fuel injection systems don't need any oxygenates added to their fuel to reduce unburned hydrocarbons. They automatically reduce the amount of air in the fuel air mixture. Oxygnenates reduce the amount of chemical energy available in fuel, because they are an oxidizer. The only reason why oxygenates were added to gasoline was so that older cars could reduce their unburned hydrocarbons. It would be better to get those cars off the road. I doubt if the production of ethanol breaks even in terms of energy used and useful energy produced. The mandate to use ethanol was entirely polically motivated to increase the demand for Midwestern corn.

[Paleo Conservative]

Any idea why Kerry thinks the MTBE manufacturers should be held responsible when it is the EPA who is mandating its addition to gasoline?

The potential problems of MTBE were predicted before the mandate was ever put in place.

[BlackRazor]

The potential problems of MTBE were predicted before the mandate was ever put in place.

Even so, why does that make the manufacturers liable, if it's the EPA who forced its use? Did the manufacturers lobby the EPA for the mandate, saying MTBE was a cure-all? Or did the bulk of the MTBE problems occur prior to the EPA mandate?

[SF Republican]

And we all know that if President Bush had made this exact suggestion the reaction would be the same. NOT

[oceanview]

of course, but the trial lawyers want it, thats why the Dems want to go after the producers. Not that you will ever hear a republican explaining this simply and clearly to the people of course.

[Paleo Conservative]

Even so, why does that make the manufacturers liable

It shouldn't. The mandate was forced on the industry despite serious warnings about the problems MTBE and other oxygenates could cause and doubts about the need for oxygenates in the first place. MTBE is soluable in water precisely because it has an ether group which contains oxygen. Most organic compounds are non-polar and are not very soluable in water. The fact that most organic contaminents are both insoluable in water and less dense than wather (hence they float) that allows them to be rather more easily separated from water. It is the soluability in water and the ability of MTBE to actually migrate through aquifers faster than water that causes the contamination problem.

[RightWhale]

The grassroots movement to remove MTBE began here in Fairbanks. One of the founders is an oilman.

[RinaseaofDs]

I don't know, but I'll bet the reason is do, re, mi ($).

There is talk that crude levels are low, that China is buying more of it, and that gas is about to go through the roof.

In envirowacko states, they have passed laws that exacerbate the price problem by mandating boutique blends of fuel. Illinois is another state that has this issue.

By waving the rules, you do avoid the MTBE issue, but I also believe that you reduce that component of price pressure in those states.

I'm just making a guess.

[BlackRazor]

Thanks for the explanation. I'm a ChemE, so I actually understand what you're saying! :)

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[SierraWasp]

When I was a Repellican, I got a resolution passed by our County Board of Supervisors to make our county an M.T.B.E. "free zone" but of course, it was just a symbolic gesture... Oh well.

Your comment was a "direct hit!" Another reason I'm now more than a little embarrassed to have belonged to the Repellican party in the "gay nineties!" (Clintonesque, don'tcha think?)

I'm now a "Decline to State" and will remain so until some danged Repellican, somewhere in CA begins to consistently articulate ideas, concepts and convictions that resonate with righteous conservative constitutional principles!!! That's my story and I'ma stickin to it!!!