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Press Release
Water consumers celebrate filibuster of MTBE 'safe harbor'
STATEMENT OF AWWA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JACK HOFFBUHR
ON FILIBUSTER OF ENERGY BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED "SAFE HARBOR" TO GASOLINE MAKERS IN CASES OF MTBE CONTAMINATION
DENVER - Jack Hoffbuhr, executive director of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), today released the following statement on the Senate filibuster of the Energy Bill. The bill contains a provision that would have prevented claims that the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl either (MTBE), which has contaminated water sources nationwide, is a defectively designed product.
"The filibuster of the Energy Bill in the U.S. Senate today is a victory for everyone who values clean drinking water and common sense.
"The MTBE 'safe harbor' provision would have excused gasoline makers from their role in widespread water pollution, saddling water utilities, local governments and consumers with a cleanup tab of some $29 billion.
"AWWA and its members * along with a coalition of water advocates, civic organizations and informed consumers -- worked tirelessly to raise awareness of this egregious provision and helped prevent a deeply flawed bill from becoming law.
"Communities afflicted by MTBE contamination have a right to hold accountable those responsible for polluting their water supplies. The senators who today defeated the Energy Bill stood up for public health in the face of powerful special interests. We should celebrate today's events as a victory for due process and an affirmation of our responsibility to protect our precious drinking water supplies.
"Today was an important first step in preventing this bad proposal from becoming law. AWWA and its members will continue to fight to defeat this provision in the energy bill should it be considered again."
AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of drinking water in North America and beyond. AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world. AWWA advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the drinking water community. Through our collective strength we become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment.
