[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 27054]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 27054]]

              CLEANER GASOLINE AND CLEANER AIR FOR CHICAGO

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to 
applaud BP/Amoco for its decision to provide cleaner gasoline to the 
Chicago Metropolitan Area. BP/Amoco recently announced that it will 
begin offering lower sulfur premium gasoline immediately and that it 
intends to provide lower sulfur gasoline in all three grades by 2001--
three years ahead of the requirement for lower sulfur gasoline proposed 
by EPA.
  The average sulfur content of gasoline sold in Chicago today is 
approximately 300 ppm. BP/Amoco's decision will reduce the sulfur 
content in its gasolines to 30 ppm. As a cosponsor of legislation to 
cap the sulfur content of gasoline--S. 172, the Clean Gasoline Act of 
1999--I believe reducing sulfur levels in gasoline is an extremely 
cost-effective way to improve our nation's air quality.
  It is estimated that when fully implemented, lower-sulfur gasoline 
offered by BP/Amoco will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions--one of the 
precursors to the formation of ozone--by about 3 tons per day. That is 
the equivalent of removing 70,000 cars from Chicago's highways every 
day.
  BP/Amoco's decision to voluntarily reduce the sulfur content of 
gasoline sold in Chicago means cleaner, healthier air for the residents 
of the Chicago metropolitan area. It demonstrates again that when we 
work together we can ensure continued economic growth and protect our 
environment.

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