For immediate release: February 15, 2002
Media Contact: Claudia
Chandler - 916 654-4989
Workshop Looks at the Impact of MTBE's Phase-Out on Gasoline
Supplies
The California Energy Commission's Fuels and Transportation Committee
will conduct a one-day workshop to discuss the possible impacts of the
phase-out of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) as an additive to
California's gasoline supplies.
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
9:30 a.m.
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
1516 Ninth Street
Hearing Room A
Sacramento, California
(Wheelchair Accessible)
Audio from the workshop will be broadcast on the Energy Commission's
website at: www.energy.ca.gov
Interested participants can also listen to the workshop by telephone by
calling, toll-free, 888-823-5065. The telephone operator will ask for
the passcode - "Business Meeting" - and the session leader - "Jerome
Lee". During the workshop, questions and comments can be e-mailed to
publicaccess@energy.state.ca.us
Background:
In response to evidence that MTBE is contaminating California's
groundwater and surface water, in 1999 Governor Gray Davis ordered the
phase-out of MTBE by December 31, 2002.
The Governor also directed the Energy Commission to monitor the
transition to MTBE-free gasoline. Consultants retained by the California
Energy Commission have been developing extensive fuel supply and demand
balances for California and believe that there may be supply shortfalls
of gasoline and gasoline-blending components if the phase-out of MTBE
proceeds as scheduled.
Because of the importance of this issue, the Fuels and Transportation
Committee has asked the consultants to present their findings at a
public workshop. Industry experts, government representatives and others
are being asked to critique the contractors' assessment and identify
actions that could be taken to avoid supply shortfalls.
Topics to be discussed include:
- The ability of the petroleum industry to phase-out MTBE by the end
of the year without causing supply problems.
- The availability of petroleum products from other U.S. and foreign
sources to help meet California's growing demand.
- Any logistical bottlenecks that exist for transporting, receiving,
storing and blending petroleum fuels, ethanol and other blending
components.
- Market impact scenarios, including impacts on market participants.
- Options for addressing potential supply shortfalls.
The notice of this meeting is available on line from the Energy
Commission's website at:
www.energy.ca.gov/mtbe/notices/2002-02-05_workshop_notice.html
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