Posted by Jane Clark

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact: Seth Boffeli/ Maureen Knightly
June 12, 2001

HARKIN STATEMENT ON DENIAL OF CALIFORNIA WAIVER REQUEST

Today, the EPA announced that it will reject the California request for a
waiver
out of the federal oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline.
Harkin, the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Committee
has been one of the strongest opponents of the waiver.  Harkin believes that
ethanol should be used as a substitute for MTBE, helping farm families and
rural
communities prosper.
    "This announcement is a major victory for farmers in Iowa and across the
nation.  It is
also a major victory for ethanol.  If ethanol is able to take its rightful
place
in one of the nation's largest markets we will be a big step closer to
making
cleaner burning, renewable ethanol the premier energy source for the entire
nation.

    "Since this waiver was first requested I have been a strong advocate for
its
denial because I knew just how big an impact it would have on the future of
ethanol.  I spoke with President Clinton urging him not to grant this
waiver.
And on the last day of his Presidency, when he was under the most pressure
to
grant the waiver, I went to the White House, and sat on a stack of boxes
until
someone would meet with me so I could make sure he knew how important this
decision is to Iowa.  I have also contacted President Bush on several
occasions,
including his first day in office and immediately upon becoming Chairman of
the
Senate Agriculture Committee.

    "Today's announcement is a tremendous boost to the entire state of Iowa.
We
have always known that we can supply the ethanol California needs to replace
MTBE in its gasoline.  Replacing MTBE in the California market with ethanol
it
will mean more than 500 million additional gallons of ethanol would be used
each
year, which would undoubtedly help build prosperity for farm families and
rural
communities."



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