Energybill prevents suits by35 states affected by toxic MTBE gas additive

Why is no one focused on the energy bills gift to oil and gas companies by way of letting them off the hook for contaminating the water in at least 35 states with a toxic gasoline additive called methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and instead puts the burden for cleaning up the mess on public authorities, i.e., you the taxpayer. The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that cost at $29 billion. At least 15 million people living in 1500 localities are directly affected.

Even though secret oil company studies obtained by the Environmental Working Group show the oil industry knew as early as 1980 that MTBE was toxic, the energy bill shields them from any legal liability for their actions. (While the industry claims that the government mandated MTBE’s use as an additive that promoted cleaner burning gasoline, the paper trail unearthed by EWG shows that the oil companies actually lobbied the government for its adoption first, taking “an unwanted byproduct of gasoline refining that was expensive to dispose of and creat a profitable market for what they, until then, had been required to handle as toxic waste.”)

The bill, which is being voted on starting today, will retroactively pre-empt local lawsuits seeking relief from various oil companies by counties, states, a school board and even a Catholic chapel. In plain English, it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card for campaign contributors -- it eliminates lawsuits that have been already filed. It also delays the phase-out of MTBE to the end of 2014 and gives oil refiners $2 billion to pay for that cost—including giving your tax dollars to refiners that have already phased it out!

The prime supporters of the MTBE liability waiver are Reps Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Joe Barton (R-TX), and Tom DeLay (R-TX), along with Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM). Barton is the oil and gas industry’s 2nd highest lifetime recipient of campaign contributions in the House with over $739,000 since 1989, according to CRP. Tauzin is third with almost $548,000; DeLay is fourth with over $472,000. In the Senate, Domenici ranks sixth among his colleagues in his lifetime haul with $572,000. These four lawmakers alone have raked in one out of every $26 given by oil and gas to all congressional incumbents, in fact.

Tauzin, who hasn’t had a major-party opponent for his congressional seat since 1996, is expected to retire from Congress this year to become a lobbyist. Rumor has it that he will represent Hollywood for $1.5 million a year, plus a car and driver and residences in L.A. and N.Y. Roll Call reports that he is quietly helping Barton line up support to replace him as the next chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.