MTBE VS. ETHANOL: MISSOURI CAN LEAD THE WAY

MTBE has been in the news a lot lately. This gasoline additive, methyl tertiary butyl ether, has fouled groundwater supplies across the country. But this troublesome additive is required in St. Louis under Missouri's reformulated gasoline program to meet federal mandates.

Missouri isn't alone. MTBE is required in all or parts of 17 states. The Clean Air Act of 1990 ordered the phase-in of oxygenates in gasoline sold in the nation's smoggiest urban areas. Estimates put MTBE's use in one-third of the nation's gasoline.

It is often present, although not mandated, in fuel sold to outstate areas as well. In Oran, MTBE leaked from underground fuel storage tanks and contaminated the city's drinking water. New wells will be drilled in the community to tap untainted water sources.

MTBE is a byproduct of the oil refining process. The octane booster helps cars burn gasoline cleaner. However, it is also a known carcinogen in animals and possibly humans. State Rep. Gary Marble from Neosho summed up MTBE's impact: "Having MTBE in your gasoline is like having asbestos in your car."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called for a three-year phaseout of MTBE, but many states are calling for a more immediate ban. California, the additive's No. 1 user, has already called for a ban on the use of MTBE by the end of 2002 and is seeking an EPA waiver from the Clean Air Act's oxygenate requirement.

Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan favors banning MTBE but insists he cannot outlaw the pollutant without action by Congress or federal environmental officials. GOP legislators both in the Missouri Legislature and Congress want the pollutant immediately banned.

Missouri has a good alternative to MTBE: ethanol, a product produced from corn or grain sorghum. Use of ethanol instead of MTBE would fulfill the oxygenate mandate.

Many legislators have suggested that banning MTBE and switching to ethanol without dropping the reformulated gasoline program is the best solution. Not only would it eliminate the MTBE health risks, but it would provide a real boon to Missouri farmers. It's a win-win solution considering Missouri is in the top 10 of corn producing states. Two new Missouri ethanol plants will go online within a year.

Congress should move quickly on the matter. The EPA says it would take three years for such a ban to work through the regulatory process.

Ethanol is a homegrown remedy that will burn just as cleanly but not pose such health risks at MTBE. Missouri should lead the way on this corn-based alternative.