With Patrick Crow
from Washington, D.C.
Now that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finally lost its battle in the courts to ban the manganese-based gasoline additive MMT, environmental groups have taken up the cause.
Thirty-seven environmental and health groups recently wrote 43 refiners and marketers, urging them not to use MMT until further studies determine the effect of low dose, chronic exposure to the public.
The groups also want the companies to label their gasoline pumps "MMT free." They threatened to publicize which gasolines contain the MMT additive Ethyl Corp. markets as HiTEC 3000.
EPA banned MMT in 1977 because of concerns it would damage auto emission control devices and later spurned MMT due to human health concerns. Last December a federal appeals court ruled EPA lacked authority under the Clean Air Act to block use of the additive. Ethyl promptly began selling MMT to a few refineries.
Environmental concerns
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which is leading the latest fight against MMT, said manganese dust has been shown to cause neurological damage and respiratory problems.
EDF said, "Almost no studies have been done in either humans or animals on the effects of long term exposures to the levels of airborne manganese MMT use will cause. No studies at all have been conducted on exposures that start in childhood and continue for years."
It said although refiners must notify EPA when they start using a new additive, "at least four companies initially blocked release of that information when it was sought under the Freedom of Information Act by claiming it as confidential business information."
Three other refiners-Navajo Refining, Flying J. Inc., and Pride-did not claim confidentiality. In any event, there is no requirement for service stations to let consumers know whether gasoline at particular pumps contains MMT."
EDF said it is ironic that MMT is coming onto the market just as leaded gasoline was finally banned at the end of 1995. It said initially, there was little data on the danger of human exposure to lead in gasoline. "That's the same situation we're in today with manganese."
EDF noted automakers still oppose MMT because they fear it will damage emission control systems.
Ethyl's response
Ethyl replied, "It's shameful that an organization such as the EDF would drag well-meaning groups into this debate and deliberately scare the public with distortions and half truths.
"And it is astonishing that this product is called experimental in the face of its use in Canada for nearly two decades."
Ethyl said EPA has found no basis to stop use of MMT. What's more, it said, there have been many studies to establish safe levels of airborne manganese. And exposure from the use of MMT in gasoline is many times below those safe levels.
It said EDF failed to explain that EPA rejected the automakers' claims following millions of miles of fleet tests.
Ethyl argued using MMT will benefit the environment, reducing refinery emissions of carbon dioxide 10 billion lb/year, nitrogen oxide 11 million lb/year, carbon monoxide 3 million lb/year, and sulfur dioxide 150,000 lb/year. It also will reduce automobile emissions of nitrogen oxide 20% and cut carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions.
Copyright 1996 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
