News Release (C-05-99)

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For Immediate Release (C-05-99) Contact: James Spagnole (916) 324-9670 February 19, 1999

MTBE Public Hearings

SACRAMENTO – Calling it the "next major step" in meeting the requirements of Senate Bill 521 (Mountjoy), today Secretary for Environmental Protection Winston H. Hickox opened a full day of testimony at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) auditorium. These hearings invite public and industry comment on the findings and conclusions of a report prepared by the University of California, Davis, assessing the health and environmental impacts of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in California’s gasoline supply.

Senate Bill 521 (Mountjoy) requires a report prepared by a U.C. Davis study team, independent peer reviews by two separate Federal agencies, and a period of public comment before the matter would be considered by the office of the Governor. The two public hearings contemplated in Senate Bill 521 are slated for February 19, 1999 at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium, Diamond Bar, and February 23, 1999, and possibly the 24^th, at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Upon completion of public testimony Governor Davis’ office will have approximately ten days to address the findings of the U.C. Davis study group after consideration of the independent peer review and the public testimony.

In opening the hearings Secretary Hickox again stressed the information gathering nature of these proceedings and specifically reserved any comment on deliberations to a later date.

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