WHEREAS, The 1990 amendments to the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) mandated the addition of oxygenates in reformulated gasoline (RFG) at a minimum of 2% of content by weight to reduce the concentration of various types of air contaminants, including ozone and carbon monoxide, in regions of the country exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and states that opted into the program; and

WHEREAS, Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), the most commonly used gasoline oxygenate in the United States and in Rhode Island has been detected in surface and groundwater supplies throughout the United States and in Rhode Island due to leaking underground petroleum storage tanks, spills, and other accidental discharges; and

WHEREAS, Because MTBE is highly soluble in water, spills and leaks involving MTBE-laden gasoline are considerably more expensive and difficult to remediate than those involving conventional gasoline; and

WHEREAS, A "Blue Ribbon Panel" of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency called for the elimination of the federal oxygenate requirement and for the reduction of the use of MTBE in gasoline because of public health concerns associated with MTBE in water supplies; and

WHEREAS, The prescriptive requirements in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments for oxygenate content restrict the State's ability to address groundwater contamination and air quality issues; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully urges and requests that the United States Congress remove the requirement in the Clean Air Act for 2% of content by weight oxygenate in reformulated gasoline so that additional alternate fuel mixtures may be available for use in Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States and to each member of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.