SACRAMENTO
-- State officials will consider loosening drinking water protections against the chemical MTBE. A recent scientific assessment found insufficient evidence to say that the pollutant causes cancer or birth defects.
MTBE is an oxygen-bearing compound that makes up 11% of gasoline at virtually all gas stations in California.
Refineries began using MTBE more liberally in California's gasoline about two years ago to reduce tailpipe exhaust. But a recent University of California study concluded that MTBE provides little or no benefit to cleaning up air pollution.
Earlier this fall, the scientific arm of the state Environmental Protection Agency proposed a public health limit for MTBE of 14 parts per billion in drinking water.
State officials will now consider whether the proposed limit imposes greater pollution monitoring and treatment costs on utilities than necessary.
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