MTBE IN NEW JERSEY'S ENVIRONMENT
The
occurrence of the fuel oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)
in the environment resulted in the need to summarize and evaluate the
available information relevant to this issue in New Jersey. A report
entitled “MTBE
in New Jersey’s Environment” was written in 2001 to
provide background information on environmental fate and transport,
health effects, and regulatory actions of USEPA and the states regarding
MTBE. New Jersey regulatory standards, permit limits, monitoring requirements,
and data on occurrence in New Jersey’s air and water are discussed
in the report.
Methyl
tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is a synthetic chemical that has been historically
added to gasoline as a fuel oxygenate, increasing the efficiency of
the combustion of the fuel. Previously, the federal Clean Air Act required
the addition of certain levels of oxygenate to gasoline in order to
reduce emissions of carbon monoxide. The oxygenate mandate was subsequently
removed by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. The USEPA predicts
that in response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, essentially all U.S.
refiners are expected to eliminate the use of MTBE in gasoline in 2006
or 2007. In addition, in 2005 the New Jersey legislature passed legislation
that prohibits the sale of gasoline that contains more than 0.5% MTBE
in the State effective on January 1, 2009. Even though the oxygenate
mandate has been removed, it appears that MTBE is being replaced by
ethanol in gasoline sold in New Jersey in order to meet both fuel octane
and Reformulated Gasoline standards. Reformulated Gasoline is required
in New Jersey to address emissions of air pollutants that form low level
ozone pollution and to reduce emission levels of air toxics.
For
more information regarding this topic, please contact Gloria
Post .
