RE: For those of you who don't like oxygenated gas

[James Desveaux <desveaux@ucla.edu>]

Regarding MTBE, companies like ARCO started phasing it in before they were
required to under the 1990 Clean Air Act.  My understanding is that the oil
companies didn't really squawk at having to oxygenate their gas.  Following
from what was said here earlier, I've also heard that MTBE negatively
affects fuel economy, but the article in the NY Times this morning said
that it also raises octane levels.

As for taking a couple of years to phase it out, that's not surprising.  My
guess is that it will take awhile to make the necessary adjustments at the
refineries, since it's more complicated than just removing the stuff, if it
does affect, say, octane levels.
Furthermore, since apparently insufficient research was done regarding the
safety of MTBE, in my view it's perfectly reasonable for the gov't to force
its phase-out, but it's unreasonable for uncle sugar, or California, to
require an immediate cessation.  Gov't makes mistakes; industry makes
mistakes.  

California already decided to end the use of MTBE some time ago.

- Jim