MTBE Case Studies

Contamination in the drinking water became a major threat in California in 1997 after Santa Monica lost half its underground drinking water to MTBE  contamination. Several wells were closed. Clean-up costs will exceed $5 million.  (Oxy-Fuel News, 8/16/99)

South Lake Tahoe lost approximately one-third of its wells due to MTBE contamination. (Los Angeles Times, 5/18/99)

Dozens of MTBE-contaminated sites are now clustered in Oxnard and Ventura  counties atop a critical aquifer that provides drinking water to 300,000 consumers.  MTBE poses a threat of filtering into the drinking water supply. (Los Angeles Times, 5/18/99)

Approximately 10,000 groundwater sites are contaminated statewide.
(Lawrence Livermore National  Laboratories)

Iowa also has banned MTBE
 
Alaska, Montana, North Carolina and  Iowa MTBE removed
MTBE has been banned in Alaska and part of Montana because of complaints of health problems. Motorists said they had trouble with  breathing, nausea, sore throat, skin rashes, eye irritations and neurological  problems after pumping gas or breathing automobile exhaust. (Hartford Courant, 1/5/99)

North Carolina banned MTBE after classifying it as a probable cause of cancer  in people. (The Hartford Courant 1/5/99)

 
Maine Out of RFG because of MTBE
State officials pulled out of the reformulated gasoline program due to concerns about MTBE. (Boston Globe, 7/27/99)

More than 4,000 wells in the state were found to have MTBE contamination.  (Dow Jones Energy Service, 10/14/98)

In October 1998, Maine was the first state to request dismissal from the RFG program, stating that MTBE is a potential health threat. (Dow  Jones Energy Service, 10/14/98)

In November 1998, the EPA withdrew the existing reformulated fuels mandate in  Maine. MTBE Case Studies, cont’d

Wisconsin No more MTBE
In Wisconsin, reformulated gasoline is required in six eastern counties. While MTBE was widely used in the area when  reformulated gasoline was introduced in 1995, it has been replaced in most gasoline brands by ethanol.

Wisconsin motorists complained shortly after its introduction that fumes from  reformulated gas containing MTBE caused headaches and dizziness. Others said reformulated gas damaged small gasoline engines because the fuel burns so hot. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/29/99)

In July 1999, a government advisory panel asked for a widespread reduction of  MTBE. The panel made up of diverse interests from environmentalists to oil industry executives found that while reformulated gasoline has contributed to  significant air quality improvements, MTBE poses a growing threat to drinking  water.

Northeastern states MTBE pollutes
Environmental officials from eight northeastern states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New  Jersey, New York, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont) called for MTBE to be largely phased out within three years because it pollutes waterways.

Connecticut Want to ban MTBE
Legislators will try to pass a law in the next General Assembly session to ban the use of MTBE. (Hartford Courant, 7/28/99)

More than 200 wells from across the state have been tainted with MTBE.
(The Hartford Courant, 7/29/99)

Connecticut legislators passed a law authorizing a study aimed at possibly banning MTBE. (Hartford Courant, 7/29/99)

In 1992 Connecticut Water Co. had to shut down three wells because of MTBE contamination attributed to a gasoline leak from a tank at a municipal garage.

Massachusetts MTBE contaminates water
MTBE has seeped into 53  drinking water supplies in the state, requiring the closure of three wells.  (The Boston Globe, 5/12/99)

Gasoline stations along Southbridge Street (Route 12) pose potential hazards to the water supply. MTBE was detected in Well No. 6, which led to the  filtration system installation. (Telegram & Gazette,  6/23/99)

Heavy traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 290 and Route 20 are a challenge in keeping the water supply safe.

New Hampshire MTBE contaminates wells
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services requested a waiver from the federal RFG program that required some southern counties to reduce air pollution. (Associated Press, 8/1/99)

21% of the wells in the state exceed state limits of MTBE. (Oxy-Fuel News, 8/3/98)

New Jersey MTBE in wells
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection found 400 private wells and 65 public wells that were  contaminated by MTBE. (National Petroleum News, 6/1/99)

New York MTBE forces school to close
MTBE has been detected at  approximately 1,500 spill sites in all 62 counties of New York. (Oxy Fuel News, 8/23/99)

Groundwater contaminated by MTBE near a Valley Stream elementary school  forced the school to close.

Gov. George Pataki ordered the state Department of Environmental Conservation  to reduce the amount of MTBE allowed in surface and groundwater. (Associated Press Newswires, 11/9/99)