Council Watch

City Council votes to ban MTBE from use as gas additive

The carcinogen has been found in reservoirs and wells throughout Silicon Valley

By Jessica Lyons

In an effort to protect San Jose's drinking water, the City Council unanimously voted to support a resolution calling for the prohibition of the use of Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) as an additive in motor vehicle fuel at the Council meeting on March 16. Their resolution, however, is only superficial. The actual chemical will remain in Santa Clara County's drinking water unless Governor Gray Davis decides to ban the chemical. He has until March 27 to make that decision.

MTBE, listed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency as a possible human carcinogen, has in the past been detected at the Anderson, Coyote and Calero reservoirs--all three supplying drinking water to the San Jose area--as well as nearly 300 leaking underground storage tanks in Santa Clara County. The current MTBE levels, however, are non-detect in Anderson and Coyote and only two parts per billion in Calero. According to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, MTBE levels above 13 parts per billion may be dangerous to humans.

A recent study by the UC-Davis recommends phasing out the MTBE additive completely.

"We want to send a clear message to Sacramento and to Governor Davis that we want them to take action to remove MTBE as a fuel additive," says Erik Schoennauer, chief of staff for Councilmember Pat Dando. "It's really a matter of public safety. Our water supply is at risk and ultimately the governor and the federal government have to make the decision to ban MTBE."

The proposal was sponsored by Dando and Councilmember Linda LeZotte.

"I think it's imperative that we urge [Davis] to protect the water in this county and ban MTBE," LeZotte said at the council meeting. "I believe we should ban it immediately."

The March 16 City Council Meeting was the last meeting before the California Environmental Protection Agency closed the public comment deadline on March 17. Now Governor Gray Davis has 10 days to address the conclusion and recommendations of the UC-Davis report.

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