[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13933-S13934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  MTBE

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, for the third day this 
week, I have come to the floor to speak about MTBE.
  This is the gas additive that has become a huge concern for millions

[[Page S13934]]

across the Nation because of the contamination it has caused.
  That is certainly true of many communities throughout New Hampshire 
where it has become a crisis. And the crisis will continue to escalate 
unless it is dealt with.
  I was pleased last week when the majority leader made a commitment to 
me that the Senate will vote on MTBE legislation before the end of 
February.
  Until the day of that vote arrives, I will continue to come to the 
floor to remind Senators of the terrible impact that MTBE is having on 
the Nation. And remind them why it is important that we act now.
  In 1990, the Clean Air Act was amended to include a clean gasoline 
program. That program mandated the use of an oxygenate in our fuel--
MTBE was one of two options to be used.
  The program with MTBE is that when it is leaked or spilled, it moves 
through the ground very quickly and into the water table.
  Many homes in New Hampshire and across the nation have lost use of 
their water supply because of MTBE contamination.
  Many others have had to install expensive water treatment systems in 
order to drink the water or even shower.
  According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 
there may be up to 40,000 private wells with some MTBE contamination. 
Of those, up to 8,000 may have MTBE contamination over state health 
standards.
  So far this week, I have talked about the problems faced by families 
and small businesses throughout the regions of New Hampshire.
  Today I want to talk about the Sojka family who have a home on 
Cobbetts Pond in Windham.
  The water supply for the home is a deep, bedrock on-site well.
  Just about two years ago, the Sojkas began noticing that the water 
had a strange odor and that it left a residue on their hands.
  So they did a little test of their own to see if there really was 
anything unusual with their water. Their son Brian filled up a bowl 
full of tap water and let it sit overnight. They were horrified with 
their finding next morning. The water had a slick oily film floating on 
top--the same water that the family had been drinking, bathing in, and 
cleaning their food with.

  As a result, the Sojkas had their water tested. The test revealed 
MTBE contamination at a level twice as high as the State standard.
  They contacted the State of New Hampshire for help--by now, it had 
become quite common for the state to get this type of request.
  The state began providing bottled water to the family. Just like the 
Miller family I spoke of yesterday, the Sojka's pointed out similar 
concern--that while bottled water is fine for drinking, it doesn't help 
with other daily needs such as: bathing; washing fruits and vegetables; 
and cooking.
  Within a few months of the initial tests at the Sojka home, the MTBE 
contamination levels in the well jumped up by almost 8,000 percent.
  Unbelievable contamination!
  Last summer, the State installed an elaborate and cumbersome water 
treatment system on the Sojka's property. Unlike the Millers that I 
spoke of yesterday, who had a system installed in their home, the 
system needed for the Sojka's was too large to fit in the home
  The State had to build a shed separate from the house for the 
commercial water treatment system. The system consists of an enormous 
commercial air stripper and two 6 cubic foot carbon units.
  Such a system costs in the neighborhood of $20,000.
  Fortunately for the family, the state is providing the system and 
cost of operation and maintenance to the tune of an additional $5,000 
per year.
  Can you imagine having a large chuck of your back yard being occupied 
by a commercial water treatment system.
  It is terrible that this has to happen to any family. And it is 
horribly wrong for federal mandate to cause such pain.
  This problem isn't unique to New Hampshire--it exists in Maine, 
California, Nevada, Texas, New York, Rhode Island, and on and on.
  We would be delinquent in our duties as United State Senators if we 
were to sit back and do nothing about this.
  We must act soon.
  I have a bill that has been reported out of committee two years in a 
row that will address these problems.
  Mr. President, the time to act is now--it is time to help out the 
families who have fallen victim to a Federal mandate.

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