STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION



NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP
ON EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS
OF A POSSIBLE BAN OR REDUCTION OF
METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE)
ON CALIFORNIA'S GASOLINE SUPPLY



The California Energy Commission's Fuel Resources Office staff will conduct a public workshop to discuss the impacts of a possible ban or reduction of the gasoline additive Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) on the supply and price of California's gasoline.

The staff will study the possible substitution of other oxygenates, including Ethanol, Ethyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (ETBE), and Tertiary-Butyl Alcohol (TBA), and the cost and supply of these alternatives. These studies will be performed by examining the input assumptions and results of such topic areas as refinery modeling, oxygenate price and availability, California import potential, and distribution system capabilities.


Note: Location of hearing has changed to accomodate an expected larger crowd.


THURSDAY, October 23, 1997
Starting at 9 a.m.
Sacramento Convention Center
1400 "J" Street
Third Floor -- Room 306
Sacramento, California
(Wheelchair Accessible)


Background

The Energy Commission has been charged, by the Finance Committee of the California State Legislature, to undertake a detailed evaluation of alternative gasoline additives (oxygenates) that could be used in lieu of MTBE and to report the findings to the Legislature in January, 1998.

The study is to include potential costs or savings to the public of the various alternatives to MTBE, the present and future availability of these alternatives and the minimum time frames within which these alternatives could be undertaken without resulting in significant disruptions of California's gasoline supply.

The Energy Commission has contracted with experts who specialize in the fields of refinery modeling, global oxygenate supply availability and technologies, new oxygenate plant construction costs, worldwide refining capabilities, and California reformulated gasoline. These contractors have begun preliminary studies including refinery modeling, oxygenate availability reports, and analyses of the world refining industry and capabilities.

The purpose of this workshop is to review and discuss the preliminary assumptions, approaches, and scenarios being used by these expert contractors and the Commission staff in their studies.

Public Participation

The public is invited to attend this workshop and will have the opportunity to comment. Anyone who would like to provide written comments may do so by mail or e-mail. Written comments must include Docket No. 96-FR-1 on the cover page and 12 copies must be filed by November 5, 1997, with the Energy Commission's Dockets Office at:

CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
Dockets Office
Attn: Docket 96-FR-1
1516 Ninth Street, MS-4
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
E-Mail: docket@energy.state.ca.us

Information about public participation is available from Roberta Mendonca, the Commission's Public Adviser, at (916) 654-4489 or toll-free at (800) 822-6228. Please contact the Public Adviser's office if you have a disability and require reasonable accommodations to participate in the workshop. Media inquiries should be directed to the Commission's Assistant Director, Claudia Chandler, in the Media and Public Communications Office at (916) 654-4989. Questions of a technical nature should be directed to Gordon Schremp at (916) 654-4887 or by E-mail at gschremp@energy.state.ca.us

Additional Information and Attendance

Energy Commission staff have compiled a comprehensive information package on this subject which will be forwarded to all interested parties. To this end, a brief form is attached to this notice. The form is intended to anticipate attendance at the workshop so that adequate seating can be provided and to collect names and addresses of those parties wishing to receive the information package. The package also will be made available on the California Energy Commission's website accessible at http://www.energy.ca.gov/FR97

Please complete and mail or fax the attached form to indicate if you will be attending the workshop, if you would like to receive a copy of the informational package, or if you would like to remain on the California Energy Commission's MTBE Mailing List.

STAFF WORKSHOP ON EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS
OF A POSSIBLE BAN OR REDUCTION OF
METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE)
ON CALIFORNIA'S GASOLINE SUPPLY

MAILING LIST/ATTENDANCE INFORMATION SHEET


I will/will not (circle one) attend the October 23, 1997, Public Workshop on Examining the Potential Impacts of a possible Ban or Reduction of MTBE on California's Gasoline Supply.

I do/do not (circle one) wish to remain on the Energy Commission's MTBE mailing list.



Name and Title ___________________________________________


Company or Affiliation _____________________________________


Address ________________________________________________


City, State, Zip Code _______________________________________


Phone Number/Fax _________________________________________


E-Mail Address ___________________________________________


Mail or Fax the Completed form to:

California Energy Commission
Attn: Gordon Schremp, MS-23
1516 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 654-4753

October 1, 1997