Lawmakers abandon MTBE liability shield to help clear way for passing.

[Eugene]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-07-24-energy-bill_x.htm

Posted 7/24/2005 5:44 PM

Lawmakers abandon MTBE liability shield to help
clear way for passing energy bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — House and Senate conferees abandoned giving
makers of the gasoline additive MTBE liability protection against
environmental lawsuits on Sunday, removing the major roadblock to
enactment of broad energy legislation.

Senate negotiators rejected a House proposal for an $11.4 billion
MTBE cleanup fund that House Republicans had hoped would serve as a
compromise and still provide the liability shield to the oil industry.

But Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said "the proposal has not been
accepted by the Senate" and that he would offer another MTBE proposal
on Monday.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., leader of the Senate energy negotiating
team, said while some MTBE issues were still being discussed, those
did not include a cleanup fund, nor liability protection.

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[Moderator]

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