Citizens Campaign for the Environment

CAMPAIGNS

MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) Pollution in Drinking Water

CLEAN WATER VICTORY! Due to public opposition of MTBE groundwater pollution, the federal oxygenate requirement was allowed to sunset on May 5, 2006—marking the end of MTBE in gasoline across the nation!

A Brief Timeline of CCE action on MTBE

May 5, 2006, Gasoline sold in US is MTBE free! The federal oxygenate requirement sunsets.
August 19, 2005, New Jersey becomes 25th state to ban MTBE.
2005, CCE called upon New Jersey to ban this toxic chemical from gasoline supplies to effectively ban the additive in the entire tri-state area.
January 2004, MTBE is banned from the gasoline mixture sold in New York or Connecticut
In 2000 CCE successfully advocated for New York State and Connecticut to remove MTBE from gasoline over a four-year phase out.
Since 1999, CCE has been urging states to respond to the growing threat to drinking water from the gasoline additive MTBE.

What is MTBE? Many are now aware of the water-polluting chemical MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) and its rapidly growing threat to the quality of drinking water supplies in Northeast and throughout the nation. MTBE has historically been used as a fuel additive to make gasoline combust more efficiently and completely, with the intent of reducing tailpipe emissions. The transportation, handling and storage of gasoline has led to thousands of documented spill sites across New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and the nation which can contaminate soils, groundwater, surface and coastal waters.

MTBE is Problematic: Classified by the EPA as a possible carcinogen, MTBE is just one of many contaminants in the mixture of toxic chemicals known as gasoline. However, unlike gasoline's other ingredients, MTBE dissolves easily in water, and the microorganisms that feed on and break down petroleum products tend to avoid MTBE. When a spill or leak occurs, MTBE separates itself from the other fuel components and moves away from the spill site with water flow. These qualities make MTBE very difficult and costly to clean up, and explain why MTBE is being detected in drinking water supplies so quickly. MTBE is particularly problematic in areas such as northern New Jersey that are dependent on groundwater wells for drinking water.

Click here to view CCE's comments submitted to the New York State Department of Health on the MTBE Maximum Contaminant Level for Public Water Systems in New York State, October 7, 2003

NEW JERSEY BECOMES 25TH STATE TO BAN MTBE

Leaking Underground Storage Tanks: A Major Source of MTBE Contamination

With a stroke of the pen by Acting Governor Codey of New Jersey, there are now a majority of states in the Continental U.S. with an MTBE ban on their books. Due to this fact, as well as the failure of MTBE lobbyists to get a loophole into the federal law to exempt them from responsibility for the deleterious effects of MTBE, some major manufacturers of MTBE have begun scaling back - and even completely eliminating - MTBE production. CCE continues to fight to protect the public and ecosystem from this dangerous substance at the state, local and federal levels of government.

Click here for a special series of articles from The Times Union about the MTBE problem in New York State.

For more information about CCE's work on MTBE, contact our Farmingdale office at show email address or call us at 516-390-7150.