Perciasepe commented that the waiver request is inconsistent with the agency's existing position that oxygenates have a beneficial impact on air quality. Illinois EPA Director Tom Skinner, commenting on the successful ethanol reformulated gasoline program in the greater Chicago area, urged the Congress to maintain the oxygen requirement and allow ethanol to play a larger role in improving the nation's air quality. We believe that the use of oxygenates in reformulated gasoline has also provided significant air quality benefits in our nation's metropolitan areas, well beyond those required in the Clean Air Act. Skinner expressed concern that unless EPA makes fundamental policy changes in the next few months that account for the carbon monoxide emissions reductions benefits of ethanol, the Chicago area could be forced to use MTBE in Phase 2 reformulated gasoline. Michael Graboski of the Colorado School of Mines, testified on behalf of the National Corn Growers Association that if the oxygen requirement were removed, aromatics would increase.
Aromatic compounds are highly toxic and many like benzene are known human carcinogens.
The toxic potency of aromatics and their combustion byproducts are, in many cases, orders of magnitude greater than the potency of oxygenates or their combustion byproducts. Eric Vaughn, President of the Renewable Fuels Association, noted that today's rising oil prices and failing farm economy demonstrate the need to promote the increased production and use of ethanol in reformulated gasoline as a safe response to MTBE water contamination.