PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 908 PRINTER'S NO. 1481
No. 68 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY McILHINNEY, FEBRUARY 27, 2001
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 3, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to enact H.R.20,
2 that was introduced on January 3, 2001, and that modifies
3 provisions of the Clean Air Act, regarding the oxygen content
4 of reformulated gasoline and improves the regulation of the
5 fuel additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
6 WHEREAS, Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is a volatile
7 organic compound derived from natural gas that is added to
8 gasoline either seasonally or year-round in many parts of the
9 United States to increase the octane level and to reduce carbon
10 monoxide and ozone levels in the air; and
11 WHEREAS, MTBE is found in gasoline and other petroleum
12 products commonly stored in underground storage tanks and is
13 typically added to reformulated gasoline, oxygenated fuel and
14 premium grades of unleaded gasoline; and
15 WHEREAS, Health complaints related to MTBE in the air were
16 first reported in Alaska in November 1992 when about 200
17 Fairbanks residents reported problems such as headaches,
18 dizziness, eye irritation, burning of the nose and throat,
19 disorientation and nausea; and
1 WHEREAS, Similar health complaints have been registered in
2 Anchorage, Alaska; Missoula, Montana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and
3 New Jersey; and
4 WHEREAS, Currently the United States Environmental Protection
5 Agency (EPA) tentatively classifies MTBE as a possible human
6 carcinogen; and
7 WHEREAS, MTBE is on the EPA's Drinking Water Priority List,
8 which means that it is a possible candidate for future
9 regulation; and
10 WHEREAS, There is widespread concern about the health risks
11 presented by the continued use of MTBE in gasoline; and
12 WHEREAS, On January 3, 2001, H.R.20 was introduced in the
13 United States House of Representatives; and
14 WHEREAS, H.R.20 amends section 211 of the Clean Air Act (69
15 Stat. 322, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.) to modify the provisions
16 regarding the oxygen content of reformulated gasoline and to
17 improve the regulation of the fuel additive, methyl tertiary
18 butyl ether (MTBE); therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
20 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
21 United States to enact H.R.20, that was introduced on January 3,
22 2001, and that modifies provisions of the Clean Air Act,
23 regarding the oxygen content of reformulated gasoline and
24 improves the regulation of the fuel additive methyl tertiary
25 butyl ether (MTBE); AND BE IT FURTHER <--
26 RESOLVED, THAT COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION BE TRANSMITTED TO
27 THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF EACH HOUSE OF CONGRESS AND TO EACH
28 MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
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