[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 25043-25044]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   THE NEED TO PASS MTBE LEGISLATION

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I would like to engage the 
majority leader in a colloquy. As the majority leader knows, I have 
been working for nearly two years on legislation to deal with the 
numerous problems associated with the gasoline additive MTBE. The use 
of MTBE as a fuel additive grew tremendously starting with the Clean 
Air Act's reformulated gasoline program that was implemented in 1995. 
Today, MTBE makes up approximately 3 percent of the total national fuel 
market.
  Unfortunately, when leaked or spilled into the environment, MTBE can 
cause serious drinking water quality problems. MTBE moves quickly 
through land and water without breaking down. Small amounts of MTBE can 
render water supplies undrinkable.
  This contamination is persistent throughout the nation, and New 
Hampshire is certainly a State that has been

[[Page 25044]]

hard hit. According to State officials, up to 40,000 private wells may 
be contaminated with MTBE. Up to 8,000 of those wells may have MTBE 
contamination over the State health standards. Areas especially hard 
hit include both rural and urban areas. In the past few years I have 
visited, as well as received many calls and letters from, a number of 
the families whose wells are contaminated and they are extremely 
frustrated. When I was the chairman of the Environment & Public Works 
Committee, I held a field hearing in Salem, NH on this issue. Last 
Congress, I introduced legislation to clean up this contamination and 
ban the further use of MTBE. The bill was reported out of the EPW 
Committee, however, circumstances prevented the full Senate from 
considering that bill. Again this year, I introduced MTBE legislation, 
and once again the EPW Committee reported it out with a strong 
bipartisan vote. S. 950 will provide for the clean up of MTBE 
contamination, ban the additive, and ensure that environmental benefits 
of the clean gasoline program will be maintained. This is a hardship in 
many communities, and it will continue to escalate unless it is dealt 
with soon. No American should have to be concerned with the water they 
drink.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Yes, I do understand the problems associated with MTBE 
and I recognize your hard work in helping to bring about a resolution 
to this important issue. I also share the concerns of the Assistant 
Majority Leader, co-sponsor of S. 950, with regards to the devastating 
contamination found in communities surrounding Lake Tahoe, NV.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Because this is such a vital issue to New 
Hampshire and the nation, it is my intention to do all within my power 
to see that the Senate acts on this matter. I appreciate all of the 
efforts of the majority leader to work with me in bringing this bill to 
the floor and would hope that the Senate will consider S. 950 in the 
near future. Will the majority leader provide me an assurance that this 
will happen?
  Mr. DASCHLE. I agree that the Senate should vote on MTBE legislation 
in the near future and have included S. 950 in the comprehensive energy 
bill that I introduced with Senator Bingaman last week. I can assure 
the Senator from New Hampshire that it is my intention to bring up for 
debate and votes before the full Senate that energy bill, including S. 
950, prior to the President's Day recess in February 2002.

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