[California Energy Commission Letterhead]


STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission



Notice of Public Hearing On the
Timetable for the Phaseout of MTBE
From California's Gasoline Supply



The California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board staff will present a staff report on the Timetable for the Phaseout of MTBE from California's Gasoline Supply and request the Energy Commission formally adopt the report. The Public Hearing is scheduled as follows:

MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1999
Starting at 9 a.m.
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
1516 Ninth Street
First Floor, Hearing Room A
Sacramento, California
(Wheelchair Accessible)

Background

Governor Gray Davis' Executive Order D-5-99, Item #4, March 25, 1999, directs the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to develop a timetable by July 1, 1999, to remove methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) from gasoline at the earliest possible date, but not later than December 31, 2002. The Executive Order also requires that the timetable reflect the Energy Commission's studies and should ensure that an adequate supply and gasoline be available for California consumers.

Both agencies have conducted meetings with various stakeholders to collect the information necessary to respond to Item #4 in the Executive Order. These stakeholders include permitting agencies, environmental groups, state agencies, the ethanol industry, petroleum refiners, and petroleum product pipeline companies. The meetings included discussions covering issues associated with Governor Davis' Executive Order D-5-99. Specifically, these meeting topics covered the timetable for removing MTBE from gasoline sold in California, delivering MTBE-free gasoline to the Lake Tahoe region, and discussing potential refinery impacts of Phase 3 reformulated gasoline specifications. In addition, a public workshop was held on June 18, 1999, to receive comments on the staff draft report.

In this Public Hearing, staff from both agencies will discuss the findings associated with the removing MTBE from California's gasoline, specifically with regard to the timetable for phasing-out MTBE.

Public Participation

The public is invited to attend this Public Hearing and will have the opportunity to comment. Information about public participation is available from Roberta Mendonca, the Commission's Public Adviser, at (916) 654-4489, toll-free at (800) 822-6228, or . If you require special accommodations, contact Robert Sifuentes, at (916) 654-5004, at least five days prior to the Public Hearing. Media inquiries should be directed to the Commission's Assistant Director, Claudia Chandler, in the Media and Public Communications Office at (916) 654-4989. Technical questions should be directed to Gordon Schremp at (916) 654-4887 or gschremp@energy.state.ca.us.

Additional Information

The Energy Commission draft report on this subject is posted on the Internet at http://www.energy.ca.gov/mtbe. The revised draft report will be posted at the same above address, and e-mailed to individuals on the MTBE mailing list or that have supplied their e-mail address ideally, prior to June 22, 1999. Individuals wishing an e-mail supplied revised draft report should notify Gordon Schremp via e-mail gschremp@energy.state.ca.us. Request for a written copy of the revised draft report should be sent to the Public Advisers Office; however, the Energy Commission cannot guarantee prompt mail delivery.




________________________________
MICHAL C. MOORE
Commissioner and Presiding Member
Fuels and Transportation Committee



Date Mailed: June 18, 1999
MTBE List



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