Sierra Friends: Below is a summary of HelveticaIncreasing Use of Motor Oxygenate Enhancers Study Committee of September 16. The next meeting is October 8, 10 am, at the Timber Ridge facility near Mapleton. The summary is taken from the study committee website. I thought many of you might be interested. Lyle Krewson Sierra Club Iowa Lobbyist HelveticaIncreasing Use of Motor Oxygenate Enhancers Study Committee HelveticaSeptember 16, 1999 Background. The Legislative Council established the Increasing Use of Motor Oxygenate Enhancers Study Committee during the 1999 Legislative Interim to study issues and make recommendations relating to the sale, use, and health and environmental effects of oxygenate enhancers contained in motor fuel. The study is required to include both ethanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Overview. The meeting was held at William Penn College in Oskaloosa. The Committee elected Senator Bartz and Representative Klemme as permanent co-chairpersons and heard testimony from ethanol proponents and petroleum industry representatives. Background Information. Doug Adkisson, Legal Counsel, Legislative Service Bureau, presented background information relating to regulation, taxes, and programs affecting gasoline and specifically oxygenate enhancers. David Reynolds, Sr. Legislative Analyst, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, presented information concerning the history of the motor vehicle fuel tax. Ethanol Proponents * Department of Agriculture. Patricia Paustian, Coordinator, Office of Renewable Fuels of Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, provided an overview of the office that she heads and the benefits of using ethanol. * Farm Bureau. Jon Muller, Research Director, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, provided an analysis of the economic benefits of requiring that ethanol be blended into gasoline sold in this state. According to Mr. Muller, requiring the standard would increase revenue to farmers, create employment, and spur the construction of value-added agricultural manufacturing facilities. * Corn Growers. Ron Litterer, President, Iowa Corn Growers Association, encouraged the Committee to consider methods to promote the increased production and use of ethanol, including requiring an ethanol blended fuel requirement. * Colorado School of Mines. Professor Mike Graboski, Faculty Member, Colorado School of Mines, dicussed environmental impacts associated with using gasoline and added oxygenates, including ethanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Professor Graboski discussed hazards to the environment and human safety associated with gasoline and MTBE. He stressed that using ethanol instead of MTBE decreased the presence of those hazards. * Renewable Fuels Association. Eric Vaughn, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, discussed the history of the ethanol industry and its importance to states such as Iowa which have taken a lead in promoting its use, according to Mr. Vaughn. He also discussed hazards associated with MTBE and California's experience with the oxygenate. Petroleum Industry Representative. David Smitherman, representing the American Petroleum Institute, responded to a number of statements made by previous presenters. He stated that the state's requirement that gasoline cannot contain more than two percent MTBE may be challenged. He stressed that environmental contamination in California due to MTBE does not pose a significant risk in Iowa because of the requirements of the state's underground storage tank law. Ron Marr, Managing Director of the Petroleum Marketers of Iowa, presented information regarding pricing of gasoline by local dealers. Ethanol Production Tour. Eric Johnson, Facility Manager Cargill, Eddyville, invited members to tour the Cargill ethanol production facility at Eddyville. Geneva____________________________ Lyle R. Krewson 6403 Aurora Avenue #3 Des Moines, IA 50322-2862 515/276-8947 515/276-3965 - Fax [log in to unmask] ____________________________ County: Polk County, Iowa Location: 41:34:36N 93:37:03W Population (1990): 193187 ____________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]