Support The Capps Motion to Strike the MTBE Liability Waiver and other Pro-Environment Amendments to H.R. 6 and Oppose Final Passage
04/21/05

U.S. House
Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Representative,

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the political voice of the national environmental community.  Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental Scorecard, which details the voting records of Members of Congress on environmental legislation.  The Scorecard is distributed to LCV members, concerned voters nationwide, and the press.

LCV urges you to oppose H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to support the Capps motion to strike the MTBE liability waiver as well as other pro-environment amendments to the bill.  Americans need a smarter, cleaner energy policy that reduces our dependence on polluting energy sources and saves consumers money by significantly increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy.  However, H.R. 6 does just the opposite.  This legislation would harm the environment, threaten public health, weaken consumer protections and keep us dependent on foreign fossil fuels.  

One of the most egregious provisions of the bill would shield makers and refiners of the dangerous chemical MTBE from pollution liability.  MTBE, a potential carcinogen, has been added to gasoline since the late 1970s.  MTBE leaks out of underground storage tanks and from gasoline spills, dissolves and spreads rapidly in groundwater, and does not degrade easily.  It has contaminated groundwater systems in at least 29 states, threatening the drinking water of millions of Americans.  

The MTBE liability waiver will force states and local taxpayers to pay billions to clean up MTBE contamination.  Taxpayers and affected communities should not be mandated to bear these costs, nor should polluting industries whose products created the damage be given a pass from paying   cleanup costs.

LCV urges you to oppose H.R. 6 and to vote for the Capps motion to ensure that the oil and chemical industries remain fully liable for contaminating the nation’s water supply with MTBE.  Moreover, LCV supports additional amendments to enhance environmental and public health protections.  LCV has scored votes on the Energy bill several times in the last four years, and the Political Advisory Committee will strongly consider including votes on this bill when compiling LCV’s 2005 Scorecard.  If you need more information, please call Betsy Loyless or Tiernan Sittenfeld in my office at (202) 785-8683.

Sincerely,

Deb Callahan
President, LCV